The Confederation of African Football has introduced new regulations following the officiating and security failures that overshadowed the 2025 AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco.
The match, held earlier this year, descended into controversy when poor decisions by match officials and security lapses left both teams and their supporters frustrated. CAF said the incidents exposed weaknesses in how the tournament was run and determined action was necessary.
The new rules address multiple areas. CAF will now require stricter protocols for match officials before major finals, including mandatory refresher training on current regulations and video review procedures. The body also mandated that host nations deploy additional security personnel in stadiums and implement better crowd management systems.
Officiating standards have been a persistent complaint in African football. The new measures include assigning senior referees only to knockout matches and finals, and establishing a review panel that examines controversial decisions within 48 hours of any match. CAF said the panel will recommend disciplinary action against officials whose errors materially affected outcomes.
Security upgrades will see CAF work directly with host nations to conduct pre-tournament stadium assessments. The regulations require minimum staffing levels for security and medical personnel, and mandate that venue operators complete CAF training before tournaments begin.
Both Senegal and Morocco have not publicly commented on the new rules. However, sources close to both federations said they welcome the changes. CAF's ruling body approved the measures at an emergency meeting last month, with full implementation set for the 2027 AFCON tournament in West Africa.
The changes also include financial penalties for nations that fail to meet security or officiating standards. CAF will levy fines ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 dollars on federations responsible for breaches.
CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba said the organisation remained committed to maintaining the integrity of African football. He added that the new framework would prevent similar incidents in future tournaments.
Host nations bidding for the 2027 AFCON will need to demonstrate compliance with the new rules as part of their bid evaluation process. CAF said it expects all participating nations to adopt the regulations immediately, even before the formal tournament.
