DZWatch Exclusive: A cloud of suspicion hangs over the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following allegations of a pre-arranged deal that influenced the appointment of the refereeing committee head just months before the Africa Cup of Nations. The alleged agreement, dubbed the ‘Kinshasa Agreement’, reportedly took place during the 47th CAF General Assembly held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on October 6, 2025.
While the assembly ostensibly followed a standard agenda, sources suggest that a significant compromise was brokered behind the scenes. Just three weeks later, a new refereeing committee was instated, with Congolese official, Olivier Safari Kabene, replacing Ivorian, Doué Nomandiez, as its head. This swift change has fueled speculation about the true nature of the events in Kinshasa.
The official justification for the change cited Article 8 of CAF’s regulations, which stipulates that the Executive Committee appoints the refereeing committee members based on nominations. However, critics argue that the process lacked transparency, with claims that neither formal nominations nor a vote took place. Instead, it is alleged that the appointment was part of a pre-determined settlement.
Further fueling the controversy, it is claimed that Doué Nomandiez, the ousted Ivorian official, received a direct phone call from a high-ranking football official on July 27, 2025, while on assignment in Tanzania. This call allegedly came immediately after the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Nigeria. The message was reportedly blunt: “Return to your country; your mission is over.” This decision was supposedly made in response to Morocco’s loss in the final, and the perceived mistreatment of the Namibian referee during the match.
Adding another layer to the allegations, a Moroccan-based financial auditing firm reportedly began scrutinizing CAF’s accounts prior to the Kinshasa meeting. The audit allegedly uncovered irregularities, including undocumented financial transactions and deficiencies involving the CAF Secretary-General, Congolese Veron Mosengo-Omba.
These findings seemingly created leverage, leading to what some describe as a clear act of coercion. Weeks of uncertainty and threats of legal action against the Secretary-General culminated in the alleged ‘Kinshasa Agreement,’ raising serious questions about the integrity of CAF’s governance and the fairness of its competitions. DZWatch will continue to investigate these claims.
