The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its competition regulations, directly in response to the unprecedented controversy that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Morocco. CAF president Patrice Motsepe acknowledged that "deficiencies" and shortcomings in officiating and match management were significant contributors to the chaos and widespread criticism that followed the finale, impacting the image of African football.

The dramatic final in Rabat initially saw the Senegal national football team declared champions after a tense 1-0 extra-time victory over the Morocco national football team. However, this outcome was subsequently overturned by CAF’s Appeals Board. The title was controversially awarded to Morocco following disciplinary rulings tied to Senegal’s walk-off protest over a contentious late VAR penalty decision. The match was further overshadowed by reports of security disturbances inside the stadium and allegations of unsporting conduct, including the widely discussed “Towelgate”—claims that Senegal’s goalkeeper was distracted and interfered with by ball boys and opposition staff during crucial moments.

Speaking to BBC Sport Africa, President Motsepe confirmed that an internal review had been completed, revealing significant operational failings. “We’ve recognised what the deficiencies were that led to the unfortunate incidents in Morocco,” Motsepe stated. He added, “We’ve introduced new laws and regulations to ensure that doesn’t happen again.” The reforms aim to restore confidence in African football administration and prevent a recurrence of such disorder.

The newly introduced measures by CAF will focus heavily on several key areas. These include strengthening VAR governance, ensuring greater consistency and improving officiating standards across African competitions, enhancing security coordination, and establishing clearer disciplinary procedures and frameworks. Motsepe emphasized the paramount importance of integrity, stating, “African football must be judged by the highest standards of fairness, professionalism and integrity.”

The fallout from the final has drawn sharp international criticism. Former England international Nigel Reo-Coker expressed concern that the situation had handed other federations and critics “an opportunity to laugh at CAF, at the Africa Cup of Nations, and at Africa as a continent,” damaging the image of African football globally. Meanwhile, the Senegal Football Federation has vehemently rejected CAF’s ruling, describing the decision to strip them of the title as “a robbery.” The federation has escalated the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where a final verdict is currently pending. Motsepe confirmed that CAF would fully respect the outcome of the legal process once CAS delivers its ruling.