African referees ‘as good as the best’, says Motsepe amid World Cup representation push
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe says more African referees should officiate at the FIFA World Cup, adding that discussions with the world governing body will continue to provide more opportunities for officials from the continent.
Speaking in Sandton on Wednesday while reflecting on Africa’s performance at the recent World Cup and developments within African football, Motsepe acknowledged concerns over the limited number of African referees selected for the tournament.
Only 11 African referees were appointed for this year’s World Cup, but Motsepe has assured that CAF is working with FIFA to increase representation by improving training, support and standards for referees on the continent.
"Obviously, I want as many African referees as possible to be at the World Cup and to officiate as many matches as possible. And we will continue the discussions and the engagement with FIFA."
Motsepe also addressed the case of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the United States in June 2026 and missed the opportunity to officiate at the World Cup.
He added that African referees can compete at the highest level globally.
"African referees are as good as the best in the world, and we've got lots of confidence in them. And they should be there at the highest level in the world."
Turning to women’s football, Motsepe said CAF is committed to backing its promises with meaningful investment.
He highlighted a 900% increase in prize money for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as evidence of the organisation’s commitment to growing the women’s game.
Motsepe said the WAFCON winners’ prize money increased from $200,000 when he became CAF president to $1 million and now stands at $2 million.
He said overall funding for women’s football across Africa has also grown significantly, rising from 975,000 dollars to nearly 6 million dollars under the current leadership.
Motsepe added that while progress has been made, more work is needed to further develop women’s football on the continent.
He has also confirmed that bidding processes for future Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including AFCON 2028, 2032 and 2036, are underway.
Addressing concerns about the future of CAF after his tenure, Motsepe dismissed suggestions that he would leave with the organisation’s resources, saying his responsibility is to ensure strong leadership succession.
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