Former Nairobi governor Gideon Mbuvi, popularly known as Mike Sonko, has filed a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over alleged biased officiating during Kenya’s quarter-final match against Madagascar in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The heated clash, held on August 22, ended in heartbreak for the Harambee Stars, who were eliminated after a penalty shootout. However, Sonko insists that Kenya was unfairly denied victory due to what he terms as “blatant misconduct and bias” by the match officials.
Two Disallowed Goals Spark Outrage
According to Sonko’s complaint, the referees wrongfully disallowed two of Kenya’s goals without conducting a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review or consulting the team captains and coaches, as required by CAF statutes.
“The officiating was not only questionable but went against the principles of fairness, sportsmanship, loyalty, and integrity that CAF upholds,” Sonko stated in his submission to the CAF Disciplinary Board.
Conspiracy Allegations Against Officials
The former governor further alleged a collective conspiracy, implicating referees, assistant referees, the match commissioner, referee inspector, and even security officers in what he described as a “deliberate plot to deny Kenya a semi-final spot.”
Sonko has urged CAF to launch a thorough investigation and take disciplinary action against the officials responsible, warning that such conduct undermines the credibility of African football.
Kenya’s CHAN Journey Cut Short
The Harambee Stars’ exit has sparked heated debate among fans and football stakeholders, many of whom echoed Sonko’s frustrations on social media, accusing CAF of perpetuating bias against East African teams.
CAF is yet to issue an official response to the complaint.
