CAF silence deepens as Safari controversy clouds AFCON final legacy

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe is facing mounting scrutiny over his handling of the fallout from the 2025 AFCON final, as questions linger over the role of referees’ chief Olivier Safari.

At the centre of the storm are allegations that Safari intervened during the final to prevent the referee from issuing yellow cards, a move that, if confirmed, would strike at the core of officiating integrity in African football.

The claims have unsettled fans, officials, and analysts, amplifying concerns about transparency and governance within the continental body.

Speaking in Dakar, Motsepe declined to directly address the allegations, instead passing the responsibility to CAF’s administrative leadership in a moment that reinforced perceptions of evasiveness.

“Mr Secretary General, please answer this question… throw yourself into the fire. Did you hear the question?” he said.

CAF secretary-general Samson Adamu confirmed that the matter remains unresolved, stressing that no conclusions have yet been reached.

“CAF is following due process until a final decision is reached,” Adamu said. “At this stage, no action has been taken.”

CAS BOUND: Taking the Fight Beyond CAF’s Walls

The controversy stems from a dramatic final between Morocco and Senegal, initially decided in Senegal’s favour after a 1-0 victory in extra time.

However, the match was marred by a late disruption when Senegal’s players briefly left the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a penalty, resulting in a prolonged stoppage. Play eventually resumed under referee Jean-Jacques Ndala.

Morocco failed to convert the penalty, and Pape Alassane Gueye went on to score what appeared to be the winning goal.

Yet the outcome would not hold.

In a dramatic reversal, CAF’s Appeals Board later annulled the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and stripping Senegal of the title, a decision that intensified scrutiny of both the officiating and CAF’s internal processes.

According to reports central to Morocco’s appeal, Safari is alleged to have acknowledged that “institutional instructions” were issued during the stoppage, directing the referee not to caution Senegal’s players to ensure the match could continue.

Such a decision proved pivotal. Had the players been booked upon their return, at least two Senegal players would have been sent off, potentially altering the course of the final.

Senegal have since escalated the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, taking the matter beyond CAF’s jurisdiction.

With the case now entering the legal arena and pressure mounting on CAF’s leadership, the organisation finds itself at a crossroads. Its response to the crisis, whether marked by transparency or continued ambiguity, may ultimately shape not just the resolution of the dispute, but the credibility of African football itself.