South Sudanese refereeing quartet appointed for Ethiopia-Tanzania AFCON qualifier

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a South Sudanese officiating team for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier between Ethiopia and Tanzania. The match, scheduled for 16 November, will be officiated by FIFA-certified referee Malong Reng, who will serve as the head referee.

Reng, who joined the ranks of FIFA international referees in 2022, is no stranger to the high-stakes environment of international football.

He previously oversaw the match between Eswatini and Mozambique, where Mozambique emerged victorious with a 3-0 scoreline in Matchday 4 of the qualifiers.

Reng will be joined by South Sudanese compatriots Robert Douki and Gassim Mader, who will serve as first and second assistants, respectively, while Anthony Kirr will take up the role of fourth official.

The South Sudanese Football Federation has expressed pride in the appointments, stating, “This selection highlights the growing recognition of South Sudanese officials in international football.”

The quartet’s presence underscores the increasing prominence of South Sudanese officials in major CAF tournaments, signifying CAF’s confidence in their capabilities at this critical stage of the qualifiers.

As the fifth day of AFCON 2025 qualifiers approaches, Ethiopia finds itself on the edge of elimination.

With only one point to show thus far, the Walya Antelopes are positioned at the bottom of their group and face an uphill battle to stay in the race for Morocco.

To qualify, Ethiopia would need to secure victories in their final two matches while hoping both Guinea (currently with six points) and Tanzania (with four points) fail to earn any additional points.

Tanzania, while not out of contention, also faces significant pressure as they look to retain a viable path toward qualification.

The team currently holds four points, which places them in a delicate position that will require a strong performance in the remaining games to secure their spot.

This Ethiopia-Tanzania match promises high tension, with both teams aware of what is at stake.

For Ethiopia, a win is imperative to keep their AFCON 2025 hopes alive, while Tanzania will be looking to solidify their standing and maintain their position within striking distance of qualification.