By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
African football will once again be strongly represented on the international stage, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) sees a total of 19 match officials selected across key refereeing roles.
The list highlights the growing trust in African officiating, with seven central referees chosen to take charge of matches. Among them are experienced names such as Mustapha Ghorbal of Algeria and Pierre Atcho of Gabon, alongside officials from Somalia, Mauritania, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa. Their inclusion reflects CAF’s continued investment in elite refereeing standards across the continent.
Supporting them are ten assistant referees drawn from a diverse pool of nations. Countries like Morocco, Algeria, and Gabon feature prominently, underlining their strong presence in African officiating. Cameroon’s Elvis Noupue also earns a place on the list, marking a significant achievement for the country’s refereeing fraternity.
In the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) category, two officials—both from North Africa—have been selected. Egypt’s Mahmoud Ashour and Morocco’s Hamza El Fariq will be responsible for overseeing technology-assisted decisions, a role that continues to grow in importance in the modern game.
Overall, the selection brings CAF’s total representation to 19 officials, broken down into seven central referees, ten assistants, and two VAR specialists. The numbers not only demonstrate Africa’s increasing influence in global football governance but also highlight the continent’s progress in producing highly trained and trusted match officials.
As international competitions continue to demand the highest standards, CAF’s referees will be under the spotlight—tasked with delivering consistency, authority, and fairness on football’s biggest stages.
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