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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Osasu Obayiuwana in Casablanca

Referees in crisis and pitch pressure: six things we learned from Afcon 2025

Chaos at the final (top left, top right and centre), Morocco fans (bottom right) and Alex Iwobi (bottom left)
Chaos at the final (top left, top right and centre), Morocco fans (bottom right), and Alex Iwobi (bottom left). Composite: Getty Images

Refereeing in desperate need of improvement

At the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, officiating was at its finest, with the Confederation of African Football’s video assistant referee operation setting standards that were the envy of the Premier League and several other European leagues. Sadly, refereeing standards took a nosedive at this tournament, which many associate with the abrupt dismissal of the Ivorian Noumandiez Doué as head of Caf’s refereeing department on the eve of the African Nations Championship last year.

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