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.
CAF is 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.
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.
According to Business Day, the statement issued on April 1, 2025, noted 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.
🚨 CAF orders a replay of the Cameroon vs Kenya AFCON Qualifier after Match-fixing investigations.
— 9JAPLAYERS🇳🇬 (@9jaPlayersNews) April 1, 2025
Did you think CAF is lenient with the punishment? pic.twitter.com/UpPiXdBy8J
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 reportedly 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.
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."
Statement on Match Manipulation Allegations pic.twitter.com/d98JCp5HW9
— Football Kenya Federation (@Football_Kenya) March 27, 2025
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."
