The decisions of some referees during the 35th African Cup of Nations have undermined the credibility and tarnished the image of African officiating, according to former Algerian international referees Mohamed Benouza, Mohamed Hansal and Mohamed Amine Meknous, describing this edition of the tournament as the worst in the history of African football competitions.
Former referee Mohamed Benouza, who took part in five AFCON finals competitions and currently serves as a referee inspector for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said there were “too many errors” made by referees that unfairly harmed multiple teams, thus affecting the outcomes of some matches while sparking “high tensions and confrontations.” “These errors have directly impacted the flow and the outcomes of matches, raising serious questions about the fairness of the competitions,” he added, noting that despite the presence of VAR, there were some behind-the-scenes schemes, leading to decisions in favor of the host country.
During this tournament, controversial and arbitrary refereeing decisions contributed to creating a tense atmosphere around the competition, sparking contentious situations and blatant favoritism toward the host nation, according to Benouza.
This storm of controversy highlighted the chaotic organization and raised serious questions about the involvement of certain officials from the host country, as well as the credibility of the referee committee, according to the source.
For his part, Mohamed Hansal spoke of “cases of referee corruption and behind-the-scenes maneuvering” that marked the 35th AFCON, describing it as the worst African tournament in history, due to the direct intervention of the head of the “Makhzen” football federation in the appointment of referees.
The former international referee said that Fouzi Lekjaa wielded control over CAF’s refereeing commission through questionable practices to make things easier for the host nation’s team, undermining fair play principles and the integrity of the game.
He said that this year’s AFCON was a “rigged” tournament, undermining the integrity of the game and of African football, emphasizing that some referees have tarnished the image of African officiating by committing serious referee errors, notably during Algeria’s matches.
For Mohamed Amine Meknous, head of the disciplinary committee of Oran football league, the 35th edition “will remain negatively marked in the history of African Football” for “the maneuvering and practices that had nothing to do with the sport.” He specifically cited “controversial” refereeing decisions and pressure placed on officials, singling out several administrators including those from the host country who overstepped sporting boundaries.
