Truth Emerges After CAF Reportedly Order Replay of Controversial AFCON 2025 Qualifier

• The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly ordered a re-match of Cameroon and Kenya's 2025 AFCON qualifier
• The Indomitable Lions defeated the Harambee Stars 1-0, with a goal from Boris Enow, in a neutral venue in Kampala, Uganda
• The news has now been debunked as April Fool's Day prank, a custom celebrated globally on April 1 with sports a major playground

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly ordered Cameroon and Kenya to replay their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers amid match-fixing allegations and an official investigation, a news that has been debunked as April Fool prank.

CAF was said to have issued a letter stating that a forensic review found several irregularities. The second-leg match ended 4-1 in favour of Cameroon over Kenya in Yaounde, sealing their slot in the AFCON.

Cameroon-Kenya match marred by controversy

CAF has reportedly issued a formal communication to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on their findings in the match between the Harambee Stars and the Indomitable Lions.

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According to Business Day, the statement issued on April 1, 2025, reportedly claimed that the match was possibly compromised due to irregularities found by FIFA's Integrity and Compliance Unit.

CAF Integrity Officer Marjan Marjan said a forensic review of the game in Yaounde on October 16, 2024, highlighted instances of match manipulation involving multiple individuals.

Kenyan goalkeeper Patrick Matasi was specifically named, with concerns raised over his actions in the match relating to FIFA's anti-match-fixing regulations.

CAF was reported to have stated that it would cover all expenses for the replay to ensure that no financial burden was placed on either federation, according to Kingfut.

Since then, the Football Kenya Federation has vowed to provisionally suspend any individuals implicated in match-fixing between Kenya and Cameroon.

CAF's disciplinary committee has determined that the game must be replayed within 60 days at a neutral venue to be specified by the African football body.

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Players from Cameroon and Kenya are now facing scrutiny regarding their possible links to match-fixing as football governance turns its eyes to Africa.

Kenyan goalkeeper Matasi suspended for 90 days

Kenya's national team goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has since been provisionally suspended for 90 days amid allegations that the match was manipulated.

According to the BBC, the decision was made after a video posted online showed the Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper reportedly agreeing to affect the match.

The 37-year-old has 30 international caps for the Harambee Stars. Per Marca, it was alleged that Matasi was approached before the qualifier against Cameroon.

Responding to the allegations against Matasi and the possibility that the result of the game was deliberately fixed, the Football Kenya Federation said, via Sun:

"We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions. This investigation will adhere to FKF's Anti-Match Manipulation Regulations and FIFA guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process."

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Journalist: Cameroon should be excluded from controversy

Cameroonian journalist Martial Yonkeu has stated that the Indomitable Lions should be kept out of the controversies and match-fixing allegations surrounding the Football Kenya Federation.

Speaking exclusively to Legit.ng, he suggested that Matasi may have been approached by foreign ‘investors’ who sought to influence the match in favour of Kenya losing a home game.

"We have seen similar issues in the past, where foreign individuals impersonate football federations to influence matches. Cameroon are one of the biggest footballing nations in Africa and does not need any favours to win matches."

FIFA threatens to sanction Zambia

Legit.ng also reported that FIFA threatened to ban Zambia following the government's intervention in football administration.

This comes after activities of the latest round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers were rounded up across the different centres.

The winner of each of the nine groups directly qualifies for the global showpiece, with Africa guaranteed nine places.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng