CAF Executive Committee Members Demand Dissolution Of Referees Committee, Secretary General’s Exit

CAF Executive Committee Members Demand Dissolution Of Referees Committee, Secretary General’s Exit

Sampson Adedeji

Majority of members of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have called for the dissolution of the body’s Referees Committee following widespread controversies surrounding officiating at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The issue of refereeing standards dominated discussions during recent deliberations, with several members expressing dissatisfaction over decisions taken during the 2025 AFCON tournament staged in Ivory Coast.

The committee’s chairman, Congolese official Olivier Safari Kabene, came under heavy criticism, as members pushed for his removal and a complete restructuring of the refereeing body to restore credibility and integrity.

According to sources within the meeting, the proposal to dissolve the Referees Committee was debated extensively, although no official decision has been announced yet.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe addressed the refereeing controversies during his press conference, offering a mixed assessment of the officiating at the 2025 AFCON.

“The referees’ reports during the AFCON in Ivory Coast were excellent, but Morocco, given the evidence presented, it was a disappointment,” Motsepe stated, acknowledging concerns raised by some participating nations.

Beyond refereeing matters, attention also shifted to the position of CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba. Several Executive Committee members reportedly questioned his continued stay in office, citing age regulations within the organization.

Mosengo-Omba, who has surpassed the stipulated age limit of 63 for the position and has already utilized the only permitted extension of his tenure, is now facing calls from within the leadership for his resignation to ensure compliance with CAF’s established governance rules.

While CAF is yet to issue a formal statement on both matters, the developments signal growing internal pressure for reforms within African football’s governing body as it seeks to address governance and officiating concerns ahead of future continental competitions.