MBABANE – CAF has hinted at a significant overhaul in the remuneration of match officials to safeguard the integrity of the game on the continent.
This move was signalled by Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe following his recent high-profile visit to Senegal, where he addressed the fallout from the controversial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final.
The push for better pay emanates from the ‘unacceptable’ officiating incidents during the showpiece in Morocco, which saw Senegal retroactively stripped of their title. Motsepe, determined to restore trust and professionalise the industry, stated:
“We are determined to allocate additional financial and expert technical resources to ensure that the quality, integrity, impartiality and expertise of African referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) operators are as good as the best in the world. We must professionalise African referees and pay them well.”
This proposed increase is set to be a massive windfall for local FIFA-accredited officials who are frequently called up for CAF and Confederation Cup assignments. Elite local referees like Thembenkosi Dlamini and seasoned assistants such as Zamani Simelane, who are regulars in continental competitions, stand to see their match packages align more closely with global standards.
The windfall also extends to specialised roles. Eswatini’s flag was kept flying high by Letticia Viana, the only liSwati representative at the AFCON Morocco 2025, where she served with distinction as a VAR official. Under the new CAF mandate, VAR specialists and match commissioners will see their fees restructured to match the high-pressure nature of their roles.
Currently, the disparity remains stark. While an AFCON package was previously set at approximately E93 500 ($5,000), a FIFA World Cup official can earn a retainer exceeding E1.3 million. Domestically, the situation is dire; Eswatini referees are the lowest paid in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, earning a mere E400 per game, compared to E6 000 in South Africa or E2 600 in Zimbabwe and E1000 in Lesotho. CAF’s ‘professionalisation’ plan aims to bridge this gap, ensuring that officials like Dlamini, Simelane and Viana are compensated fairly for their expertise on the big stage.
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