Egyptian referee Amin Omar has shed light on his refereeing journey at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast, culminating in his management of one of the semi-final matches of the tournament.
Omar officiated three matches during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations: Ivory Coast vs. Guinea-Bissau in the opener, Tanzania vs. Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Nigeria vs. South Africa semi-final clash.
Speaking during a phone call with presenter Hani Hathout on the program “Al-Match” via “Sada El Balad” channel, Omar emphasized, “Overseeing the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations was a duty, not an honor, because delivering a good performance in the inaugural match is essential as it sets the tone for the entire tournament.”
Omar stressed that all referees make mistakes and the best referee is the one with the “fewest errors,” acknowledging the challenges of officiating the opening game amid difficult weather conditions.
Regarding coping with high humidity in Ivory Coast, Omar explained, “We arrived a week before the tournament to acclimate ourselves with the conditions to be able to handle the matches.”
Reflecting on his use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) twice in the Nigeria vs. South Africa semi-final, Omar clarified, “A referee resorting to VAR does not necessarily mean he made a mistake. There are situations that the on-field referee may not see.”
Addressing comparisons made between a penalty awarded to South Africa and one denied to Zamalek during Egyptian league matches, Omar emphasized the differences, stating, “The two instances are entirely different; one involved handball while the other was a foul against a player.”
On the subject of differences in the performance of Egyptian referees between the Africa Cup of Nations and domestic competitions, Omar responded, “A referee’s character remains intact.
The difference lies in Egypt, where referees are held accountable for personal interests and allegiance to supported teams, while spectators adopt a neutral stance when watching matches officiated by Egyptian referees in the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Omar’s insights offer a glimpse into the challenges and responsibilities faced by referees at the highest level of African football, highlighting the intricacies of their role in the game.
