As Cameroon ended South Africa’s AFCON 2025 campaign in Rabat, another story quietly unfolded beneath the floodlights. One of composure, clarity, and Kenyan excellence.
In the unforgiving atmosphere of the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages, officiating often comes under intense scrutiny. On January 4, 2026, Kenyan referee Peter Waweru Kamaku and his all-Kenyan officiating team rose to that challenge with a performance that drew widespread praise and reaffirmed their standing among Africa’s elite match officials.
Assigned to the high-stakes Round of 16 encounter between Cameroon and Bafana Bafana at the Al Medina Stadium, Kamaku was joined by assistant referees Gilbert Cheruiyot and Stephen Yiembe. Together, the trio delivered a display defined by control, communication, and technical precision.
From the opening whistle, Kamaku set a firm but calm tone in the centre. His understanding of game management was evident as he balanced physicality with fairness, allowing the contest to flow while stepping in decisively when tempers threatened to flare. Early cautions, including a booking for Cameroon’s Nouhou Tolo, established clear boundaries and prevented the match from tipping into disorder.
Cheruiyot and Yiembe were equally assured on the touchlines. Their positioning and coordination proved crucial in key moments, most notably in the 15th minute when South Africa’s Lyle Foster saw a goal ruled out for offside. The decision was made swiftly and correctly, underlining the trust and synergy within the Kenyan officiating unit.
As the match intensified, with South Africa chasing the game and Cameroon defending their advantage, pressure mounted from players and a vocal Rabat crowd. Kamaku remained unflustered, issuing further yellow cards to South African players including Siyabonga Ngezana and Foster as frustrations grew, all while maintaining authority without theatrics.
Even during a tense five-minute stoppage time period, the Kenyan crew showed no sign of wavering. Their consistency ensured the focus stayed on the football rather than the officials, a hallmark of top-level refereeing.
Cameroon’s victory sent them into the quarter-finals, but Kenya’s refereeing team left Rabat with reputations further enhanced. In a tournament where officiating errors often dominate headlines, Peter Kamaku, Gilbert Cheruiyot, and Stephen Yiembe delivered something rarer. A performance that needed no defence at all.
