Harare, (New Ziana) -The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has ordered a replay of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Cameroon and Kenya, after an investigation uncovered possible match-fixing in the game.
The match, played on October 14 last year in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and which the East Africans won 4-1, is under scrutiny following an extensive review by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA)’s Integrity and Compliance Unit, in collaboration with CAF and other stakeholders.
Cameroon had won the first leg 1-0 away in Nairobi, Kenya to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.
According to a letter sent to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on Tuesday, CAF stated that there is credible evidence suggesting irregularities in the game.
The investigation, which included video analysis and intelligence reports from global sports monitoring agencies, has identified potential instances of match manipulation involving several individuals.
Kenyan goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, whose actions during the match have raised significant concerns regarding compliance with fair-match-play regulations, is one of the key figures under investigation.
As a result, CAF has decided that the match will be replayed at a neutral venue, which will be determined soon but should be within the next 80 days.
Furthermore, both Kenyan and Cameroonian players linked to the suspected match-fixing are now under formal investigation.
“If found guilty, severe sanctions will be imposed, including lifetime bans from football,” CAF said.
CAF has also instructed FKF to fully cooperate with the investigation and ensure that any individuals under investigation are provisionally suspended from sanctioned competitions until further notice.
To ease the financial burden on both federations, CAF will cover all expenses related to the replay.
FIFA and CAF emphasized their commitment to upholding the principles of fair play, integrity, and transparency in football and assured that further details regarding the date and venue of the replay will be communicated in due course.
New Ziana
