Kooora reports that CAF will not disclose the referees for the AFCON quarterfinals, a decision that has caused controversy.
The only confirmed appointment so far is South African referee Tom Abongile, who has been selected to handle the clash between Senegal and Mali.
According to the report, “only the choice of South African Tom Abongile to officiate Senegal versus Mali has been settled,” while the names of the referees for the other three ties, Morocco vs Cameroon, Egypt vs Ivory Coast, and Algeria vs Nigeria, remain deliberately undisclosed. The same sources added that tension dominated the referees committee meeting, as representatives from different countries each objected to certain referees from other nations.
The report explains that the selected officials will be notified individually by special email, without any public announcement in advance.
Those familiar with the discussions described the situation as a “big farce” that heightens anxiety before the quarterfinals and exposes deep confusion inside CAF, especially after some federations, led by Morocco, had earlier requested the use of European referees similar to the Arab Cup model, a proposal that was rejected.
