The African Football Confederation (CAF) has appointed a Tunisian team of referees to officiate the pivotal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Ivory Coast and Chad, scheduled for 19 November at Abidjan’s iconic Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium.
This crucial encounter will determine the finalists from Group Seven for the 2025 tournament set to take place in Morocco.
Tunisian referee Sadiq Salmi has been selected as the main official for this high-stakes clash, accompanied by assistant referees Khalil Al-Hassani and Wael Al-Hanashi, also from Tunisia.
Their experience and expertise will be central to managing what promises to be a competitive and potentially intense match, with both teams eager to secure their place on Africa’s grandest football stage.
As it stands after four rounds, Ivory Coast tops Group Seven with nine points, closely followed by Zambia, who sits with seven points.
Sierra Leone has collected four points, while Chad finds itself in the challenging position of bottoming the group with two points.
However, the upcoming match provides a final opportunity for all teams to make a decisive impact on the group standings.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the prestigious continental tournament in Morocco, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The stakes are high, and the final round will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, with every goal and decision likely to shape the outcome of the qualifiers.
This appointment underscores CAF’s commitment to officiating with impartiality and professionalism, particularly as teams battle for limited spots in Morocco’s AFCON tournament.
The Tunisian referees are tasked with ensuring a fair and smoothly run match, paving the way for a thrilling finish in Group Seven’s competitive journey to the AFCON finals.
