The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is preparing to review its financial structure for officials and committee members, with per diem payments high on the agenda at its Executive Committee meeting on Sunday, March 29, in Cairo, Egypt.
The discussions are expected to focus on allowances paid to members of CAF’s Standing Committees, as well as match officials including referees, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) operators, match commissioners and other competition personnel.
CAF’s Standing Committees play a central role in the governance of African football.
These specialised bodies advise the Executive Committee and oversee key areas such as competitions, legal affairs, finance and development.
Their work includes organising tournaments, regulating the sport across member associations and implementing development programmes across the continent.
The proposed review of per diems signals a possible financial adjustment aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and accountability within CAF’s operational structure.
While details of any changes have not yet been disclosed, the move comes at a time when the governing body is under increasing pressure to strengthen its administrative systems.
Match officials are also expected to be a major focus of the review.
Referees, assistant referees and VAR operators are crucial to the delivery of CAF competitions, and their compensation structures are seen as key to maintaining professionalism and performance standards.
During the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, CAF appointed a total of 73 elite officials drawn from across the continent.
This included 28 referees, 31 assistant referees and 14 VAR officials, reflecting the scale and complexity of officiating at the highest level of African football.
Among those selected were experienced officials such as Abongile Tom and Daniel Laryea, both of whom have handled high-profile matches, including knockout-stage fixtures.
Their roles, along with those of other officials, highlight the importance of maintaining a well-supported and adequately compensated officiating structure.
The review comes against the backdrop of broader scrutiny surrounding refereeing standards and governance within CAF competitions.
While the focus of the meeting is financial, any adjustments to per diem payments could have implications for motivation, performance and the overall quality of officiating.
For CAF, balancing financial sustainability with the need to attract and retain top-level officials remains a critical challenge.
The outcome of the Cairo meeting is therefore expected to shape not only administrative processes but also the operational efficiency of competitions across the continent.
As African football continues to grow in visibility and competitiveness, decisions taken at this level are likely to have a lasting impact on how the game is managed, officiated and developed in the years ahead.
