The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has removed referees Boubou Traoré of Mali and Abdou Abdel Mefire of Cameroon from officiating duties for the remainder of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations currently underway in Morocco.

According to reports from BSN Sports, the decision follows an internal review process by CAF aimed at upholding high refereeing standards as the tournament moves into its decisive semi-final phase.

Concerns over officiating emerged during the quarter-final matches of the competition, prompting the continental governing body to act in order to safeguard the integrity of the tournament.

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations now enters the semi-finals, with two blockbuster encounters lined up for Wednesday. Nigeria will face tournament hosts Morocco in a high-pressure clash, while Senegal take on Egypt in another mouth-watering showdown.

The Nigeria–Morocco semi-final is set to be played at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, with both sides battling for a place in the final. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Pharaohs will lock horns with Senegal at the Grand Stade de Tanger in a fixture that promises intense drama.

The winners of both semi-final ties will advance to the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Sunday, January 18, 2026.

Notably, the Egypt versus Senegal encounter is a repeat of the 2021 AFCON final held in Cameroon, where the Teranga Lions overcame the Pharaohs to lift their first-ever continental title.