By Eyong Macdella
Journalist,kick442.com-Cameroon
Cameroon missed out on a chance to make a ninth appearance at the upcoming World Cup tournament but will have a representative. The experienced Elvis Noupoue has been retained as Assistant Refeeree for the World football jamboree.
In a list of 88 assistants and a total of 170 arbitrators, he is the only Cameroonian who makes the final list, confirming his status as one of the best assistants referees on the continent.
His selection as part of the officiating team is more of pride for an entire nation than an individual achievement. For a nation that holds the record for the most appearances at the World Cup and failed to secure a ticket during an expanded edition, Noupoue’s success comes as a relief.
Over the years, Noupoué has been lauded for his significant progress, experience and expertise at national, Continental and international levels, where he delivers with utmost dedication and passion, having officiated several top matches on the continent including the recent Africa Cup of nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The World stage presents him with a new challenge. One that can further give him the opportunity to prove he is worthy of the trust placed in him.
His hardwork and consistency which earned him CAF assistant referee of the 2024, is what he carries to the global stage, and with it, ready to defend the colors of the nation.
He will be making a second consecutive appearance at the World Cup, after officiating the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The competition is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026 in three different countries: Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
For the first time in the history of the tournament, 48 nations will battle for glory. And for this expanded edition, Africa will have 10 representatives, for the first time ever.
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