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-final matches between Cameroon and Morocco, and Algeria and Nigeria.
The review comes after reports of post-match confrontations with referees and other incidents suggesting inappropriate behaviour. In a statement on Monday, CAF said it had gathered match reports and video evidence, which have been referred to the 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. CAF is also reviewing footage of an incident involving members of the media who allegedly misbehaved in the mixed zone area,” the statement read.
During the quarter-finals, Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 in Marrakech, with goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams sending the Super Eagles into the semifinals. Post-match videos showed Algerian players confronting referees, sparking minor scuffles and an attempted pitch invasion by fans, which was prevented by stadium security. The Algerian team expressed frustration over decisions by Senegalese referee Issa Sy, including a denied penalty for an alleged handball in the Nigerian box.
Morocco also advanced with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon, although the match featured contentious refereeing calls. Cameroon claimed two potential penalties involving Moroccan defender Adam Masina were wrongly denied. Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, dismissed claims of home-team bias in his post-match briefing.
CAF reiterated its commitment to upholding professional conduct in all competitions, stating:
“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour during matches, especially actions directed at referees or match organisers. Appropriate measures will be taken against anyone whose conduct does not meet the standards expected at CAF events.”
