The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched an official investigation into alleged misconduct involving players, team officials and members of the media during the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 quarter-final matches between Cameroon and Morocco, and Algeria and Nigeria.
The probe follows reports of confrontations with match officials by disgruntled players during post-match activities, as well as complaints over refereeing decisions that dominated both fixtures.
In a statement published on Monday via CAF’s official website, the continental football body confirmed it had reviewed match reports and video evidence pointing to potentially unacceptable conduct and had referred the matters to its Disciplinary Board for further action.
“CAF has referred the matters to the Disciplinary Board for investigation and has called for appropriate action to be taken if the identified persons are found guilty of any wrongdoing,” the statement said.
CAF also disclosed that it is reviewing footage involving members of the media who allegedly behaved inappropriately in the mixed-zone area after the matches.
“CAF is also reviewing footage of an incident involving members of the media who allegedly misbehaved in the mixed zone area,” the statement added.
Algeria–Nigeria Clash Sparks Refereeing Backlash
Nigeria booked a place in the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Algeria in Marrakech, courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams. However, the match was overshadowed by heated scenes after the final whistle.
Post-match video footage showed Algerian players confronting match officials on the pitch, leading to brief scuffles and what appeared to be an attempted pitch invasion by supporters, which was quickly contained by stadium security.
The Algerian Football Federation has since submitted a formal complaint to CAF, citing controversial officiating decisions by Senegalese referee Issa Sy.
Central to their grievance was a first-half incident in which a penalty was denied for an alleged handball inside the Nigerian penalty area.
Cameroon Express Frustration after Morocco Defeat
In the other quarter-final, hosts Morocco progressed with a 2-0 win over Cameroon, but the match was similarly marked by refereeing disputes.
Cameroon’s technical crew and players expressed dissatisfaction over two penalty appeals that were waved away, both involving Moroccan defender Adam Masina. The decisions triggered visible protests from the Cameroonian bench during the game.
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui rejected claims of officiating bias in favour of the hosts during his post-match press conference, insisting the referee handled the encounter fairly.
CAF Reiterates Zero Tolerance for Misconduct
CAF reaffirmed its stance on professionalism and discipline, stressing that any form of inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated at its competitions.
“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organisers,” the statement said.
“Appropriate actions will be sought against anyone whose behaviour is not consistent with professional conduct at CAF events.”
The Disciplinary Board is expected to review all submissions and footage before determining possible sanctions.
Hmmm, I hope this doesn’t deepen xenophobia in Africa.