CAF investigates alleged misconduct in AFCON quarter-finals

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened an investigation into alleged misconduct involving players, officials, and media personnel during the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarter-finals, specifically the matches between Cameroon and Morocco, and Algeria and Nigeria.

The move comes after reports of post-match confrontations with referees by disgruntled players. In a statement released on Monday via its official website, CAF said it has collected match reports and video evidence suggesting possible misconduct, which has now been referred to the Disciplinary Board for review.

CAF investigates alleged misconduct in AFCON quarter-finals

“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. CAF is also reviewing footage of an incident involving members of the media who allegedly misbehaved in the mixed zone area,” the statement read.

In the quarter-finals, Nigeria defeated Algeria 2-0 in Marrakech, with goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams securing the Super Eagles’ spot in the semifinals. Post-match footage showed Algerian players confronting referees on the pitch, which led to scuffles and an attempted pitch invasion by fans that was prevented by stadium security. The Algerian team cited controversial decisions by Senegalese referee Issa Sy, including a denied penalty for an alleged handball in the Nigerian box.

Meanwhile, Morocco advanced with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon, though the match was also marked by disputes over refereeing. Cameroon argued that two potential penalties, both involving Moroccan defender Adam Masina, were wrongly not awarded. Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, dismissed allegations of home-team bias in his post-match press briefing.

CAF emphasised its commitment to professional conduct during all matches, stating:

“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organisers. Appropriate actions will be sought against anyone whose behaviour is not consistent with professional conduct at CAF events.”