Is CAF embarrassing Africa?

On February 13, 2026, I boarded a flight from Abuja to Lagos and experienced what, in over two decades of travel, remains the most unsettling landing I have ever witnessed. The aircraft descended sharply and appeared to drop the final few metres onto the runway. For a brief moment, fear gripped the cabin. It was the kind of landing that could easily have gone wrong.

What struck me even more than the landing itself was what followed: nothing. No announcement from the pilot. No acknowledgement of what had just happened. Just silence. Perhaps that silence was trained, intentional, even professional. But it left passengers to process the moment on their own.

In some situations, silence may be golden. In others, it can be deeply unsettling.

That same kind of silence or perhaps a failure of clarity and leadership is what the Confederation of African Football (CAF) would have been better off avoiding in its handling of the recent controversy involving Senegal and Morocco.

African football has long been a source of pride, identity, and global recognition for the continent. Competitions organised under CAF are meant to showcase not only talent but also integrity, fairness, and professionalism. But recent developments have raised a troubling question: is CAF undermining its own credibility?

At the centre of the controversy is a decision that appears to contradict both the spirit and the letter of the game. Senegal, having competed and, by all indications, secured victory on the pitch, now finds itself stripped of that result. The reason lies in circumstances many believe were poorly handled by match officials and later compounded by CAF’s ruling.

The incident itself raises fundamental concerns. Reports indicate that Senegal walked off the pitch during the match, yet the referee allowed play to continue. Under globally recognised standards set by FIFA, the referee is the ultimate authority on the field, responsible for maintaining order and ensuring adherence to the laws of the game. Where a match is disrupted to that extent, the expectation is clear: the game should be suspended or abandoned, not continued under irregular conditions.

Allowing play to proceed in such circumstances calls into question the legitimacy of any outcome that followed. It shifts the focus from the conduct of the teams to the judgement of the officials. In such a scenario, any post-match decision must carefully weigh the context. It should not simply overturn a result achieved on the field without addressing the procedural failure that made the situation possible.

Yet that is precisely what CAF’s decision appears to have done, penalising the outcome without sufficiently interrogating the breakdown in officiating.

Even more concerning is the broader pattern of behaviour associated with Moroccan teams in recent competitions. There have been repeated allegations of gamesmanship, including the disruptive tactic of throwing objects such as towels onto the pitch to break the rhythm of play. On their own, these may seem minor incidents. But taken together, they point to a troubling erosion of sporting ethics.

Football is not just about winning; it is about how victories are earned. When unsporting behaviour goes unchecked, or worse, appears to be rewarded, it sends the wrong message. It tells teams that results matter more than principles.

The reaction across the continent reflects this concern. Prominent voices, including George Weah, have openly criticised the decision. His intervention is significant, not just because of his stature as a former Ballon d’Or winner but because it reflects a broader sentiment among stakeholders who believe CAF is drifting away from fairness and accountability.

History, too, casts a shadow over the present. Moroccan football has previously been linked to controversial walkouts, including an incident in 1976 involving Guinea. While the contexts may differ, patterns matter. When similar issues recur over time, they demand firmer governance, not selective interpretation.

CAF now stands at a critical crossroads. It can either reinforce its position as a credible custodian of the game or continue down a path that diminishes confidence in its competitions. The Senegal–Morocco decision is not just about one match; it is about the standards that will define African football going forward.

First, CAF must align its disciplinary processes more closely with established international frameworks, particularly those of FIFA. Decisions must be grounded in clear rules, applied consistently, and communicated transparently.

Second, officiating standards must be strengthened. Referees must be properly trained, supported, and held accountable. Situations where a match continues under irregular conditions should not occur at this level.

Third, CAF must take a firm and impartial stance against unsporting conduct, regardless of the team involved. Selective enforcement only deepens perceptions of bias.

Ultimately, leadership within CAF must recognise that authority comes with responsibility. Governance is not about control; it is about stewardship, protecting the integrity of the game for players, fans, and future generations.

True leadership in sport, as in governance, demands courage: the courage to make fair decisions even when they are inconvenient, to uphold principles under pressure, and to prioritise long-term credibility over short-term expediency.

Africa does not lack football talent. What it must not lack is credible leadership in the administration of the game.

If CAF is to retain respect on the global stage, it must act decisively to restore confidence in its processes. Otherwise, the question will continue to echo across stadiums, boardrooms, and living rooms alike.

Babs Olugbemi, FCCA, is the Chief Vision Officer at Mentoras Leadership Limited and the founder of Positive Growth Africa. He can be reached at [email protected] or 07064176953 or on Twitter @SuccessBabs.