There have been growing concerns over the use of laser lights/pointers to target players during different Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions.
Most recently, laser lights were used to target Nigeria’s
Super Falcons players during their 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)
final victory against Morocco at the weekend.
Recall that the Super Falcons defeated Morocco 3-2 to lift
their 10th WAFCON title.
But during the encounter at the Stade Olympique de Rabat
Stadium, laser lights were seen on the faces of Super Falcons players like
Esther Okoronkwo and Michelle Alozie to blind them, particularly during penalty
kicks, free kicks, and throw-ins.
The hosts’ fans used the laser lights as a tactic to
distract and disrupt opponents.
Speaking on the development after Nigeria defeated Morocco,
Super Falcons head coach, Justin Madugu, expressed sadness over the use of
laser lights by Moroccan fans on his players.
He also disclosed that the laser lights were used on him
during the match.
“In fact, the lasers weren’t applied on the players alone,
even myself. They kept pointing those lasers at me,” Madugu said at his
post-match interview.
“I don’t know if it is proper that this type of situation
should continue. I don’t think it is proper,” he said.
Following the final encounter, some football fans took to
their social media accounts to criticise CAF for its inaction in addressing
these incidents, with some calling for stronger measures to stop the use of
laser pointers and ensure fair play.
Others even suggested that fans should bring their own laser
pointers to stadiums to retaliate.
Also, it will be recalled that such unsportsmanlike
behaviour happened in the World Cup play-off match between Egypt and Senegal in
Dakar.
Egypt lost their playoff game against Senegal for a spot at
the 2022 World Cup.
But one major talking point of the match was the use of
laser lights by Senegalese fans to blind the Egyptian players throughout the
encounter, including the penalty shootout.
Egypt missed three out of their four penalties under immense
distraction by the opposition fans.
The first of those misses was by captain Mohamed Salah, as
his face was green with laser lights when he played the ball over the goalpost.
Similarly, on 28 April 2023, laser lights were used by Wydad
AC’s fans to torment Simba goalkeeper Ally Salim Juma in the CAF Champions
League quarter-final second leg tie between both teams.
The match ended in a 1-1 aggregate draw, and Wydad went on
to win 4-3 on penalties as the hosts’ fans used laser lights to distract and
blind Juma from seeing properly.
Also, in April this year, the CAF Disciplinary Board charged
Moroccan club AS FAR with misconduct over failure to organise adequate security
and the use of laser pointers in their CAF Champions League fixture against
Pyramids FC.
In the same month, the CAF Disciplinary Board charged
Algerian club MC Alger for violating CAF Safety and Security Regulations in
their CAF Champions League fixture against Orlando Pirates, as their fans used
laser pointers against the South African club.
However, according to FIFA Stadium Safety and Security
Regulations, items such as laser pointers, which “could distract the players
and/or officials,” are prohibited.
If fans/spectators are still found using them, the teams are
liable for punishment and may be subject to disciplinary measures, according to
Article 16 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.
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