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

January 19, 2026

TL;DR

Refereeing standards at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations were considered to have significantly declined.
Controversial refereeing decisions, including a disallowed Senegal goal and a penalty awarded to Morocco, marred the final match.
Alex Iwobi was praised for his midfield performance and vision for Nigeria.
Tom Saintfiet's tactical approach with Mali and his stance against frequent Afcon scheduling were noted.
The tournament featured world-class pitches and stadiums, a significant improvement from previous years.
Playing the Afcon in cold, wet weather was deemed detrimental to player health and the tournament's atmosphere.
Moroccan fans' deep passion for football was evident, despite the national team's long wait for an Afcon title.
Coach Walid Regragui's performance with Morocco was lauded, with a call to retain him for the World Cup.

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