BY TONY UDOKA
Once again, Nigeria has been conspicuously left out as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the list of match officials for the upcoming TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
Despite being Africa’s most populous nation and a powerhouse in continental football, no Nigerian referee, assistant referee, or Video Match Official (VMO) made the cut for the tournament scheduled to hold from August 2 to 30, 2025, across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
CAF unveiled 70 officials for the tournament, 26 referees, 26 assistants, and 18 VMOs drawn from over 30 member nations. The appointments reflect a strategic blend of experienced hands and fresh talents, alongside a notable push for gender inclusion.
Names like Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi and Uganda’s Shamirah Nabadda feature prominently among the selected women referees, while seasoned VAR experts from Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco round out the high-tech officiating team.
From DR Congo to Zambia, Ghana to Eritrea, officials from nearly every region of Africa are represented, except Nigeria. This absence raises eyebrows yet again over the country’s standing in continental refereeing, particularly at a time when CAF is scaling up standards and representation.
As preparations begin in earnest with pre-tournament workshops in host nations, the snub leaves Nigerian referees watching from the sidelines — a recurring theme that continues to cast a shadow over the nation’s football development beyond the pitch.
FULL LIST OF MATCH OFFICIALS FOR TOTALENERGIES CAF CHAN 2024 Referees: Adissa Abdoul Raphiou Ligali (Benin), Messie Jessie Oved Nvoulou (Congo), Kpan Clement Franklin (Côte d’Ivoire), Malala Kabanga Yannick (DR Congo), Ahmed Nagy Mosa Mahmoud (Egypt), Tsegay Teklu Mogos (Eritrea), Jammeh Lamin N. (Gambia), Nyagrowa Dickens Mimisa (Kenya), Ahmed Abdulrazg (Libya), Diakhate Ousmane (Mali), Milazare Patrice (Mauritius), Loutfi Bekouassa (Algeria), Diouf Adalbert (Senegal), Jelly Chavani (South Africa), Ahmed Arajiga (Tanzania), Aklesso Gnama (Togo), Melki Mehrez (Tunisia), Lucky Razake Kasalirwe (Uganda), Vincent Kabore (Burkina Faso), Brahamou Sadou Ali (Niger), Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe), Mefire Abdou Abdel (Cameroon), Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco), Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda), Kech Chaf Mustapha (Morocco), Houssam Benyahya (Algeria) Assistant Referees: Ngila Guilain Bongele (DR Congo), Lucky Kegalogetswe (Botswana), Sanou Habib Judicael Oumar (Burkina Faso), Emery Niyongabo (Burundi), Rodrigue Menye Mpele (Cameroon), Amaldine Soulaimane (Comoros), Alao Salim (Benin), Fasika Biru Yehualashet (Ethiopia), Jawo Abdul Aziz (Gambia), Addy Roland Nii Dodoo (Ghana), Mwangi Samuel Kuria (Kenya), Joel Wonka Doe (Liberia), Nassiri Hamza (Morocco), Yacouba Abdoul Aziz (Niger), Dieudonne Mutuyimana (Rwanda), Omer Hamid Mohammed Ahmed (Sudan), Wael Hanachi (Tunisia), Ronald Katenya (Uganda), Eleyeh Robleh (Djibouti), Ettien Eba Medard (Côte d’Ivoire), Abeigne Ndong Amos (Gabon), Sirak Samuel (Eritrea), Ally Hamdani Said (Tanzania), Malondi Chany (Congo), Adel Abane (Algeria), Diana Chikotesha (Zambia) Video Match Officials (VMOs): Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt), Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria), Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia), Samir Guezzaz (Morocco), Hamza El Fariq (Morocco), Issa Sy (Senegal), Atcho Prierre Ghislain (Gabon), Daniel Lareya (Ghana), Abongile Tom (South Africa), Yasir Abdalaziz (Sudan), Viana Letticia (Eswatini), Maria Rivet (Mauritius), Akhona Makalima (South Africa), Stephen Yiembe (Kenya), Atezambong Fomo Carine (Cameroon), Jermoumi Fatiha (Morocco), Ghorbal Mustapha (Algeria)