CAF unveils 73-member officiating team for AFCON 2025, no Nigerian referee included

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the roster of match officials selected for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, Sport360NG reports.

In total, 73 officials have been appointed for the continental showpiece, including 28 referees, 31 assistant referees and 14 video assistant referees (VAR). Notably, no Nigerian referee made the final shortlist for the upcoming tournament.

CAF said the officials were drawn from all regions of the continent, with the list featuring some of Africa’s most seasoned referees who have handled matches across several major CAF competitions.

All selected officials are expected to arrive in Morocco on December 15 for a mandatory preparatory programme. The training, coordinated by CAF’s Referees Department, will cover physical fitness, technical drills and theoretical assessments aimed at ensuring high officiating standards throughout the competition.

CAF added that the rigorous selection process reflects its commitment to improving refereeing quality, strengthening competition integrity and raising technical standards across African football.