The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a new referee for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarter-final match between Nigeria and Algeria.
CAF confirmed that Senegalese referee Issa Sy will now take charge of the match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Desert Foxes of Algeria.
The match will be played at the Grand Stade de Marrakech later today.
Somali referee Omar Artan was originally selected to officiate the game. However, CAF later removed him after he reportedly broke tournament sponsorship rules. According to CAF, Artan wore football boots from a brand that is not approved by the official AFCON sponsors during an earlier match.
CAF said the change was made to make sure all tournament rules are followed.
Issa Sy has already been involved in the tournament. He previously worked as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during Morocco’s Round of 16 match against Tanzania. CAF believes his experience will help ensure fair and smooth officiating in this important quarter-final.
Issa Sy will be assisted by Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura as assistant referees. Gilbert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Peter Kamaku will serve in additional roles, including fourth official duties.
The VAR team for the match will include Pierre Atcho, Stephen Yiembe, Letticia Viana, and Yahya Hadqa, who will help review key decisions during the game.
A Big Match Ahead
The quarter-final between Nigeria and Algeria is one of the most anticipated matches of AFCON 2025. With the officiating team now confirmed, fans across Africa are looking forward to an exciting and competitive game in Marrakech.
