Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe is under growing pressure to address the fallout from the 2025 AFCON final, but has so far offered little clarity on the future of referees’ boss Olivier Safari.
Safari remains at the centre of a widening controversy, accused of intervening during the final to prevent the match referee from issuing yellow cards. It is an allegation that has shaken confidence in officiating standards at Africa’s biggest football tournament.
The claims have triggered outrage among fans and officials, raising deeper concerns about governance and integrity within the continental game.
When questioned in Dakar this week, Motsepe avoided taking a firm position, instead redirecting the question in a moment that seems to suggest CAF’s reluctance to engage directly with the issue.
MOTSEPE AVOIDS OLIVIER SAFARI QUESTION
“Mr Secretary General, please answer this question… throw yourself into the fire. Did you hear the question?” he said.
CAF secretary-general Samson Adamu offered no decisive update, confirming only that the matter remains under review.
“Yes, your question concerns whether CAF will suspend or take any action against Olivier Safari. As the president indicated, CAF is following due process until a final decision is reached,” Adamu said.
“At this stage, no decision has been taken.”
The controversy traces back to a chaotic final between hosts Morocco and Senegal, initially won 1-0 by Senegal after extra time.
Late in the match, Senegal’s players briefly walked off the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a penalty, triggering a 12-minute stoppage. They eventually returned, allowing referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to resume play.
Morocco failed to convert the penalty before Pape Alassane Gueye scored what appeared to be the decisive goal.
But the result did not stand.
Two months later, CAF’s Appeals Board overturned the outcome, stripping Senegal of the title and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory — a ruling that intensified scrutiny of the officiating and the events surrounding the stoppage.
At the heart of Morocco’s successful appeal was a report alleging that Safari admitted “institutional instructions” had been issued during the interruption, directing the referee not to caution Senegal’s players in order to ensure the match resumed.