CAF Champions League: Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan appointed for Espérance clash against Wiliete SC

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate Espérance Sportive de Tunis’ opening match against Angola’s Wiliete SC in the 2026-27 CAF Champions League group stage.

Artan will take charge of the Group A encounter scheduled for Saturday, 28 November, at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès, Tunisia, as Espérance begin their pursuit of success in Africa’s premier club competition.

CAF has also confirmed that Algerian official Ibrahim Lahlou will serve as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the fixture, providing additional support to the match officials.

The appointment of Artan places the Somali official in charge of an important early fixture as the group-stage campaign gets under way, with both teams looking to make a positive start.

CAF confirms officiating team for Espérance opener

Artan’s appointment is part of CAF’s preparations for the opening round of group-stage matches in the 2026-27 Champions League.

The Somali referee will be responsible for overseeing proceedings between the Tunisian giants and Wiliete SC, while Lahlou will monitor key incidents through the VAR system.

The inclusion of an Algerian official in the video-assistance team adds another North African presence to the officiating arrangements for the match.

Espérance will have the advantage of playing at home when they welcome the Angolan side to the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès.

The Tunisian club will be keen to begin their group-stage campaign positively, with the opening fixture offering an opportunity to collect valuable points in their bid to progress from Group A.

Wiliete SC, meanwhile, will travel to Tunisia for the challenging assignment against one of the country’s most established clubs.

Espérance prepare for Group A campaign

The match is scheduled to kick off at 17:00 local time on Saturday, 28 November, at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium.

It will mark the beginning of Espérance’s involvement in the group stage of the 2026-27 CAF Champions League, with the Tunisian side looking to make their opening performance count.

The appointment of Artan and Lahlou ensures that the officiating arrangements for the encounter have been confirmed ahead of the meeting.

For the Somali referee, the fixture represents an opportunity to oversee another important continental club match, while Lahlou will be tasked with assisting the on-field officials through VAR.

With the first round of group matches approaching, attention will turn to the action on the pitch as Espérance and Wiliete SC prepare to begin their respective campaigns.

The Tunisian side will hope to make full use of home advantage, while Wiliete SC will be looking to produce a positive result away from home.

Both teams will be aware of the importance of starting the group stage strongly, making Saturday’s meeting an important opening test in their Champions League ambitions.