AFCON
CAMEROON ESCAPE COMROS ATTEMPT AT AFCON OUSTER
BY MATTHEW SMITH
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have dismissed Comoros’ final appeal to have Cameroon thrown out of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) following the west African nation being stripped of the rights to host the tournament.
Cameroon were initially selected to host this summer’s tournament, however concerns over delays to infrastructure development and security saw the Confederation of African Football (CAF) move the finals to Egypt.
Cameroon were allowed to continue participating in qualifying however, and finished second in Group B along with Morocco, Malawi and Comoros, earning them one of 24 spots in the tournament.
The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) were also given hosting rights to the 2021 tournament, despite CAF having a pre-existing agreement with the Cote d’Ivoire to host the event.
In response, the Comoros Football Federation (FFC) filed a claim to CAS that the Cameroon national team should have been disqualified by CAF after FECAFOOT was stripped of hosting rights.
The first appeal was filed by the FFC on January 28 “on the basis of a failure to reach a decision constituting a denial of justice”.
The FFC then filed a second appeal on February 11 against CAF’s decision not to suspend Cameroon for CAN 2019 and to allocate the organisation of CAN 2021 to FECAFOOT.
The cases were heard by a panel of three CAS arbitrators on May 29 in Lausanne at the organisation’s headquarters, but were deemed inadmissible.
CAS ruled that FFC had no legal claim against FECAFOOT, nor did they have any sporting claim – Comoros finished bottom of the qualifying group, and so would not have been allocated Cameroon’s spot in the finals regardless of the outcome.
A statement from CAS read: “The Panel referred to the consistent case law of the CAS according to which any legal claim must be based on an interest worthy of protection.
“The panel concluded that the FFC had no concrete sporting interest. Indeed, according to the CAF regulations, the Panel considered that, even in the event of disqualification of the Cameroon national team, such disqualification would have no impact on the ranking of the FFC in its qualifying group for the 2019 CAN and that it was therefore mathematically impossible for it to qualify for this competition.
“The CAS Panel also concluded that the FFC had no sufficient legal interest in requesting that FECAFOOT be suspended by CAF.”
– insidethegames
The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of its flagship competition, with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to expand from 24 to 28 teams.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following an executive committee meeting, describing it as part of the body’s commitment to elevating African football to global standards.
Motsepe said the expansion would create more opportunities for countries across the continent while ensuring that top African players worldwide return home to compete at the highest level.
“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” he stated.
However, the CAF boss did not provide details on how the new 28-team format would be structured or when the expansion would take effect, leaving questions over qualification pathways and tournament scheduling.
Continuity for 2027, New Cycle from 2028
Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, maintaining the current 24-team format for that edition.
In a significant shift, CAF also announced that another AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will move to a four-year cycle—aligning more closely with other major international tournaments.
CAF Nations League Introduced
In addition to AFCON reforms, CAF revealed plans to introduce an African Nations League starting from 2029. The new competition will be held annually, with a 16-team final tournament staged every two years.
The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness, structure and commercial value of the African national team football.
“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said. “We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”
A New Era for African Football
The proposed changes mark one of the most ambitious restructurings of African football competitions in recent years, with CAF seeking to expand participation, enhance organisation and create a more predictable football calendar.
While details are still emerging, the decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for national teams, qualification formats and the overall growth of the game across the continent.
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The Confederation of African Football said it would implement changes and improvements to its statutes and regulations that would ensure that the farcical scenes at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final do not happen again.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the changes would strengthen trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies, but did not give concrete details.
The announcement followed a meeting of CAF’s executive committee in Cairo on Sunday and came on a tumultuous day for the organisation as its general secretary resigned.
African football’s governing body has been battling a crisis of confidence after its Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the Cup of Nations title in a decision that has been met with widespread derision.
Senegal were ruled to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after walking off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned and scored a goal in extra time to win the game 1-0.
The decision is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and if Senegal win back their title it will be a further blow to CAF’s credibility.
“CAF has taken extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices, on and off the field,” Motsepe said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is important for the respect, integrity and credibility of African referees, VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.
“CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners so that they are as good as the best in the world… CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” the CAF president added.
More precise details on the changes and how they would avoid a repeat of the Cup of Nations final controversy were not given by Motsepe, who earlier this month admitted his organisation was struggling with perceptions about its integrity.
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja
The Confederation of African Football may be considering possible disciplinary measures against Senegal following reports that the country’s national team has continued to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy despite being stripped of the title.
The development has triggered fresh debate within African football circles, with CAF understood to be treating the matter as a potential breach of its statutes and disciplinary code.
Sources close to the continental body indicate that Senegal’s actions could be interpreted as defiance of an official ruling, raising concerns about respect for regulatory authority and the precedent such conduct may set for other member associations.
CAF is believed to be weighing a range of sanctions, which could include financial penalties, formal reprimands, or restrictions on the country’s participation in certain CAF programmes and competitions.
While no final decision has been announced, insiders suggest that the governing body is keen to send a strong message on compliance and institutional discipline.
There are also indications that CAF’s disciplinary committee may be tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the continued public display of the trophy, including whether the act constitutes misconduct under its regulations.
The issue is seen as more than a symbolic dispute over silverware. Analysts argue that how CAF handles the situation will reflect its ability to enforce decisions and maintain order among its 54 member associations.
“CAF cannot afford to appear weak on matters of discipline,” a source familiar with the situation said. “If a federation openly disregards a ruling, it undermines the entire governance structure.”
CAF is expected to provide clarity on the issue during an upcoming press engagement, where its president may outline the organisation’s position and any disciplinary steps to be taken.
For Senegal, the situation presents a delicate balancing act between national pride and compliance with continental football authority. For CAF, it represents a critical test of leadership and regulatory enforcement at a time when the credibility of African football governance remains under close watch.
The coming days are likely to determine whether the matter escalates into a full disciplinary case or is resolved through diplomatic engagement behind the scenes.
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