2026 World Cup Qualifier: Liberian officials appointed for Seychelles v Gambia

A Liberian refereeing team has been selected to oversee the World Cup qualifying match between Seychelles and Gambia on 14 October.

The Group F encounter will be staged at the Stade de Saint-Pierre in Mauritius as part of Matchday 9 of the 2026 qualifiers.

Referee Washington Dolo will take charge of proceedings, supported by fellow Liberians Joel W. Doe as assistant referee one and Moïse B. Johnson as fourth official. Sierra Leone’s Mamoud A. Conteh completes the quartet as assistant referee two.

FIFA’s appointment reflects its aim of ensuring neutrality and experience in a contest where, despite the standings, both sides remain eager to prove themselves.

For Gambia, currently third in the group with 10 points, the match carries little competitive weight in terms of qualification.

Even with two victories in their remaining fixtures, the Scorpions cannot close the nine-point gap to second-placed Gabon.

Côte d’Ivoire, with 20 points, continues to dominate the section, leaving Gambia and Burundi level on points but effectively out of contention.

Seychelles, meanwhile, find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table, yet to secure a single point from eight matches.

Their campaign has been marked by heavy defeats and defensive frailty, leaving them with the simple objective of restoring pride and avoiding a ninth consecutive loss.

Despite having no route to the 2026 finals, the Scorpions will be eager to finish strongly, using the encounter to reaffirm their progress on the continental stage.

For Seychelles, the fixture represents a chance to salvage dignity from a difficult qualifying run, even if the odds remain firmly stacked against them.

The appointment of Liberian officials underlines FIFA’s commitment to balanced refereeing in matches where the stakes are more about honor than progression.

With both teams eliminated, focus will fall on individual performances and national pride rather than qualification hopes.

Kick-off is scheduled for Tuesday, 14 October, at 16:00 local time in Mauritius.

While the match may not alter the outcome of Group F, it offers an opportunity for Seychelles to chase their first points of the campaign and for Gambia to close out with resilience.

Group F standings leave little doubt: Côte d’Ivoire lead decisively, Gabon remain in pursuit, and Burundi share Gambia’s tally.

For Seychelles, the challenge remains stark, but their bid to end the qualifiers on a positive note ensures the contest still carries significance.