CAF has appointed Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho to take charge of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semi-final between Senegal and Egypt, scheduled for Wednesday at 5:00 PM GMT at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Morocco.
The announcement, released on Tuesday by the Confederation of African Football, immediately stirred strong reactions among Senegalese supporters.
Atcho remains a familiar figure to the Lions of Teranga, having officiated their dramatic round-of-16 encounter against Ivory Coast at the previous AFCON, a match that still lingers in collective memory.
CAF entrusted Atcho with one of the tournament’s most sensitive fixtures, a meeting between two continental heavyweights with a long and intense history.
Senegal, reigning champions and still unbeaten in the competition, will face an Egyptian side that carries unmatched experience at this stage of the tournament and thrives under pressure.
Atcho will not work alone on Wednesday evening. He will receive assistance from fellow Gabonese official Boris Marlaise Ditsoga and Beninese assistant referee Styven Moutsassi Moyo.
The video assistant referee role will fall to Kenyan official Peter Waweru Kamaku, who will oversee decisions from the control room as VAR scrutiny intensifies during the decisive phase of the competition.
The refereeing appointment arrives at a moment when officiating standards have drawn heavy attention throughout the Moroccan tournament.
Several matches have sparked debate and criticism, forcing CAF to emphasize discipline, consistency, and authority among its officials.
By selecting Atcho, CAF signals confidence in an official who already handled high-pressure matches involving Senegal.
For Senegal, the focus remains firmly on performance rather than officiating. Pape Thiaw’s side has built momentum through collective discipline, defensive solidity, and mental strength.
Yet memories of past controversies inevitably resurface whenever familiar names appear on the refereeing sheet, especially against an opponent as seasoned as Egypt.
Egypt, for its part, approaches the semi-final with calm assurance. The Pharaohs rely on tournament know-how and tactical control, qualities that demand firm and composed officiating.
Atcho will need to manage emotions, tempo, and discipline from the opening whistle in what promises to be an intense contest.
As kickoff approaches in Tangier, all eyes will not only track the players but also follow every refereeing decision.
In a match where margins will remain razor-thin, Pierre Ghislain Atcho holds a central role in ensuring that the semi-final unfolds with authority, clarity, and fairness.
