CAF referees head from DR Congo set for removal, faces severe punishment after AFCON 2025 fallout
Naija News • 6d ago
**Chaos in African Football: CAF's Head of Referees Faces Sack**
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final will be remembered for years to come, not just for Senegal's thrilling victory over Morocco, but also for the controversy that surrounded it. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is now set to take drastic action against its head of referees, Olivier Safari Kabene, after he was accused of influencing the referee's decisions during the match.
The incident that sparked the controversy happened when Senegal's players were asked to leave the pitch in protest against a referee's decision to award Morocco a penalty. The match was disrupted for 17 minutes, and when play resumed, Senegal's players were able to regroup and score the winning goal in extra time. However, the damage had already been done, and the CAF is now investigating the role of Kabene, who is a DR Congo official.
According to reports, Kabene admitted to telling the referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala, not to book Senegalese players during the extra time. This action, many believe, influenced the outcome of the match, which could have been ruled a forfeit if the Senegalese players had continued to boycott the game.
The CAF has promised to take severe punishment against Kabene if the allegations are true. In fact, Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana has reported that sources close to FIFA have confirmed that Kabene's position as head of referees is on the line. This is not surprising, given the gravity of the allegations against him.
As CAF prepares to restructure its officiating, Kabene's future looks uncertain. His plans to contest for the presidency of the Federation of Congolese Football Associations (FECOFA) may also be affected by the controversy. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fair play and integrity in African football, and the CAF must take swift action to restore confidence in the game.
The fallout from the AFCON final has left many questions unanswered, but one thing is clear: the CAF must act decisively to address the issues that led to this chaos. The integrity of the game is at stake, and the CAF must do everything in its power to restore it.