CAF Defends Investment in Referees After Nigeria vs Morocco Controversy

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said it is making serious efforts to improve refereeing and officiating standards across Africa.

This comes after widespread debate over the officiating in the AFCON 2025 semi-final between Nigeria and Morocco, which was handled by Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea.

Speaking before the match, CAF’s Head of TV and Communications, Luxolo September, said the organisation understands the importance of trust in referees and is working hard to strengthen that confidence.

He explained that CAF is spending heavily on referee development, including the move towards full-time officials.

CAF currently has around 20 full-time referees and is also giving more opportunities to younger officials as part of its long-term plans to raise standards on the continent.

September admitted that refereeing problems can still happen but said CAF is ready to face such issues when they occur.

According to him, challenges should be reviewed carefully and solutions found, rather than judging the system based on a single situation.

His comments attracted fresh attention after Nigeria’s semi-final loss to Morocco, which ended 0-0 before the hosts won on penalties.

Many Nigerian fans questioned some key decisions during the match, placing focus on the referee and CAF’s overall officiating structure.

However, September said refereeing concerns should not take away from what he described as a highly successful tournament.

He stated that AFCON 2025 has broken records in television viewership, ticket sales, commercial income and global interest, making it one of the most successful editions so far.

While praising the tournament’s achievements, he also accepted that improvements are still needed.

CAF has not yet released any official response to the specific complaints from the Nigeria versus Morocco match, as discussions about officiating continue.