South Africa’s refereeing prospects for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) may face a significant challenge following a controversial performance by referee Abongile Tom during the MTN8 final. The incident occurred during the match between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC, where Tom allowed the Pirates to take a quick free-kick from a position much farther up the field than where the initial foul took place.
This decision led to a crucial goal for Orlando Pirates in added time, giving them a 2-1 lead and eventually helping them secure a 3-1 victory. The call has sparked widespread criticism and is currently under review by the South African Football Association's (SAFA) referees' review committee.
The controversy could have broader implications, potentially affecting South Africa’s refereeing representation at the 2025 AFCON in Ivory Coast. Tom, 32, was the only South African referee selected for the 2023 AFCON tournament, while Akhona Makalima served as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) official. South Africa had no assistant referees at the competition, raising concerns about future representation on the continental stage.
Despite the controversy, former PSL and FIFA referee Jerome Damon remains optimistic about the status of South African referees. Speaking on 947’s MSW, Damon highlighted that South African officials are still in demand for major continental tournaments. "We’re still a sought-after brand in CAF competitions," Damon said. "We’ve had referees in the semi-finals and quarter-finals of recent CAF tournaments, including the CAF Super Cup and World Cups."
Damon acknowledged that incidents like the one involving Tom are part of the challenges referees face but emphasized that South African refereeing has made "good strides" in training and monitoring officials.
Meanwhile, despite the MTN8 controversy, Tom has been appointed to officiate an AFCON qualifier between Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone on Friday, signaling that he remains trusted on the continental stage, at least for the time being. However, the outcome of SAFA's review of the MTN8 final could play a decisive role in determining both Tom’s future and South Africa's presence in major international tournaments.