The Confédération Africaine de Football has intensified efforts to strengthen the organisation and delivery of its competitions with a series of specialised training workshops for newly appointed Match Commissioners for the 2026–2028 cycle.
The initiative, held throughout April, forms part of CAF’s broader strategy to enhance professionalism, efficiency, and integrity across African football competitions.
The fourth and final workshop is scheduled to take place from April 22 to 23 at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in 6th of October City, marking the conclusion of an extensive capacity-building programme targeting one of CAF’s most critical operational roles.
According to CAF, the workshops are designed to equip Match Commissioners with the technical knowledge, regulatory understanding, and practical skills required to effectively oversee matches within the continent’s increasingly competitive football landscape.
The newly constituted panel comprises more than 200 officials drawn from across CAF’s Member Associations.
Each association nominated four candidates—two men and two women—in line with the governing body’s commitment to inclusivity, gender balance, and professional representation.
To ensure effective delivery and meaningful engagement, participants were grouped into four cohorts based on geographical and linguistic considerations.
All sessions have been hosted at the Egyptian FA headquarters, providing a centralised training environment for the programme.
CAF emphasised that the role of the Match Commissioner remains central to the successful execution of its competitions. Commissioners are responsible for supervising all aspects of match organisation, ensuring strict compliance with CAF regulations and international football standards.
Their duties extend beyond administrative oversight to include coordination with stadium authorities, local organising committees, and technical teams.
They are also tasked with ensuring that operational procedures are correctly implemented before, during, and after matches.
In addition, Match Commissioners play a key role in maintaining the integrity and security of the match environment.
This includes overseeing team arrivals, monitoring media operations, ensuring proper functioning of the referee team and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems, and verifying that all logistical arrangements meet required standards.
Following each fixture, commissioners are required to submit comprehensive reports to CAF, detailing observations, incidents, and recommendations aimed at improving future match organisation and overall competition quality.
CAF officials say the training programme reflects the organisation’s continued focus on raising standards across African football, particularly as competitions grow in scale and global visibility.
By investing in the development of Match Commissioners, the governing body aims to ensure that its tournaments are managed with the highest levels of professionalism, consistency, and transparency.
The completion of the workshop series is expected to further strengthen CAF’s operational capacity, reinforcing its commitment to delivering world-class football events across the continent
