The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that Mauritanian referee Abdelaziz Bouh will officiate the much-anticipated CAF Champions League match between Egyptian giants Al-Ahly and South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.
This pivotal fixture, part of the second round in the group stage, is scheduled for December 7 at 15:00 local time in South Africa.
Al-Ahly, under Swiss coach Marcel Koller, will be aiming for a strong performance in Group C, which has been widely regarded as one of the most competitive groups in the 2024-2025 CAF Champions League season.
Alongside Al-Ahly and Orlando Pirates, the group includes Algeria’s CS Belouizdad and Stade Ivoirien d’Abidjan from Côte d’Ivoire.
CAF’s choice of Abdelaziz Bouh as the match official for this encounter highlights the organization’s commitment to maintaining high standards of officiating.
Bouh, known for his consistency and fairness, has officiated numerous high-stakes matches in continental tournaments and brings a wealth of experience to this critical group stage match.
In the group stage draw, Al-Ahly found itself in challenging company:
- Group A: Features Algeria’s Mouloudia, Al Hilal of Sudan, Tanzania’s Young Africans, and Congo’s TP Mazembe.
- Group B: Includes Maniema from Congo, Morocco’s Royal Army, Raja Casablanca, and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
- Group C: Contains Al-Ahly, Orlando Pirates, CS Belouizdad, and Stade Ivoirien.
- Group D: Comprises Mali’s Djoliba, Angola’s Sagrada Esperança, Egypt’s Pyramids, and Tunisia’s Espérance.
As December approaches, anticipation is building for this exciting contest between Al-Ahly and Orlando Pirates, two storied clubs in African football.
Al-Ahly, a dominant force with a record ten CAF Champions League titles, faces strong competition as they aim to progress in this year’s tournament.
