Home » CHAN 2025 Referees: African Football’s Top Officials Named
CHAN 2025 Referees. A major event for African football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed the referees for the forthcoming competition. Reserved for local players, this event will highlight the best talent and officiating skills on the continent.
65 officials in all have been chosen; 26 central referees, 25 assistants, and 14 VAR experts among them. Among them are well-known personalities like Mustapha Kechaf and Bouchra Karboubi, the latter being named CAF’s Best African Referee of the year.
This statement underlines CAF’s dedication to guarantee professionalism and fairness in every game. Having participated in earlier events like AFCON and CHAN, the chosen officials bring a lot of knowledge.
For fans of football all around, this list is the height of officiating quality. It emphasizes how crucial competent officials are for preserving the integrity of the game.
The unveiling of the officiating crew marks the African continent getting ready for a big football event. Reserved for local players, this event will compile the finest talent from all throughout the country. The roster of officials shows CAF’s commitment to technical excellence and fairness in the game.
Every official is very important in preserving the championship’s credibility. Central officials watch the game to guarantee rule compliance. Assistants give offside calls and boundary decisions top priority. Real-time reviews given by VAR experts help to reduce mistakes.
This methodical technique guarantees seamless gameplay and preserves the fair competition values. The officiating team is broken out fully below:
Role | Number of Officials |
Central Referees | 26 |
Assistant Referees | 25 |
VAR Specialists | 14 |
The ultimate officiating crew for the forthcoming event features elite performers from all throughout the continent. This varied assembly of officials illustrates CAF’s dedication to professionalism and justice in football.
Referees Table
No. | Names | Country |
1 | Adissa Abdoul Raphiou Ligali | Benin |
2 | Ouattara Jean | Burkina Faso |
3 | Mohamed Athoumani | Comoros |
4 | Messie Jessie Oved Nvoulou | Congo |
5 | Kpan Clement Franklin | Cote d’Ivoire |
6 | Malala Kabanga Yannick | DR Congo |
7 | Ahmed Nagy Mosa Mahmoud | Egypt |
8 | Tsegay Teklu Mogos | Eritrea |
9 | Jammeh Lamin N. | Gambia |
10 | Nyagrowa Dickens Mimisa | Kenya |
11 | Ahmed Abdulrarg | Libya |
12 | Rakotojaona Andofetra | Madagascar |
13 | Dakhate Ousmane | Mali |
14 | Milazare Patrice | Mauritius |
15 | Kech Chat Mustapha | Morocco |
16 | Abdulsalam Kasimu Abiola | Nigeria |
17 | Diouf Adalbert | Senegal |
18 | Jelly Alfred Chavani | South Africa |
19 | Ahmed Arajiga | Tanzania |
20 | Aklesso Gnana | Togo |
21 | Melki Mehrer | Tunisia |
22 | Lucky Razake Kasalirwe | Uganda |
23 | Bouchra Karboubi | Morocco |
24 | Celso Armindo Alvacao | Mozambique |
25 | Twanyanyukwa Antsino | Namibia |
26 | Amedome Vicentia | Togo |
Assistant Referees Table
No. | Names | Country |
1 | Bouzit Hamza | Algeria |
2 | Ngila Guilain Bongele | DR Congo |
3 | Lucky Kegalogetswe | Botswana |
4 | Sanou Habib Judicael Oumar | Burkina |
5 | Emery Niyongabo | Burundi |
6 | Rodrique Menye Mpele | Cameroon |
7 | Amaldine Soulaimane | Comoros |
8 | Malondi Chany Yanes | Congo |
9 | Fasika Biru Yehualashet | Ethiopia |
10 | Jawo Abdul Aziz | Gambia |
11 | Addy Roland Nii Dodoo | Ghana |
12 | Mwangi Samuel Kuria | Kenya |
13 | Joel Wonka Doe | Liberia |
14 | Diba Hamedine | Mauritania |
15 | Nassiri Hamza | Morocco |
16 | Yacouba Abdoul Aziz | Niger |
17 | Dieudonne Mutuyimana | Rwanda |
18 | Omer Hamid Mohammed Ahmed | Sudan |
19 | Komba John Frank | Tanzania |
20 | Wael Hanachi | Tunisia |
21 | Ronald Katenya | Uganda |
22 | Forno Carine Aterambong | Cameroon |
23 | Kone Fanta Idrissa | Mali |
24 | Jermoumi Fatiha | Morocco |
25 | Diana Chikotesha | Zambia |
VARs & AVARs Table
No. | Names | Country |
1 | Mahmoud Ashour | Egypt |
2 | Lahlou Benbraham | Algeria |
3 | Letticia Viana | Eswatini |
4 | Atcho Pierre Ghislain | Gabon |
5 | Daniel Ni Ayi Lareya | Ghana |
6 | Wawers Peter | Kenya |
7 | Dahane Beida | Mauritania |
8 | Maria Cinquela Pakuita Rivet | Mauritius |
9 | Hamza El Fan | Morocco |
10 | Salima Mukansanga | Rwanda |
11 | Issa Sy | Senegal |
12 | Abongile Tom | South Africa |
13 | Akhona Makalima | South Africa |
14 | Haythem Guirat | Tunisia |
Leaders on the list of officials are Mustapha Kechaf from Morocco and Bouchra Karboubi. Recently designated Best African Referee of the Year, Karboubi gives the team worldwide prominence. She officiated in the Women’s World Cup and the AFCON.
From Algeria, Hamza Bouzit and Lahlou Benbraham really stand out. Both have a solid history in continental events. Even if Ivory Coast is no longer a contender, their officials continue to be major champions’ contributors.
The refereeing panel for the forthcoming event is defined by different representation and worldwide knowledge. The chosen officials guarantee the best standards of justice and professionalism by bringing a great abundance of expertise from former continental events.
Many of the officials have participated in big events as AFCON 2023 and 2021. Their performance in these high-stakes games emphasizes their technical aptitudes and pressure-resistance. For instance, VAR technology has been much helped by Egypt’s Mahmoud Ashour and Tunisia’s Haythem Guirat, therefore guaranteeing precise decision-making at key times.
These officials have not only helped earlier events to be successful but also established standards for next ones. Their knowledge of handling several teams and challenging situations makes them great benefits to the competition.
The squad of referees mirrors the great variation of African countries. Well-represented countries including DR Congo, Senegal, Cameroon, and Mali highlight the continent’s great talent pool. This regional inclusiveness guarantees that many points of view and officiating techniques are available.
The choosing procedure of CAF stresses on the harmony between young and experience. This style not only improves officiating quality but also helps developing new talent. Officials from Tanzania and other countries add even more to the panel’s legitimacy and fairness.
This varied representation improves refereeing quality so that every game is run with accuracy and integrity. It also emphasizes CAF’s will to support excellence and unity in African football.
The choice of officials for the forthcoming championship shows CAF’s will to raise African football standards. Every game is guaranteed fairness and accuracy by this varied combination of officials, helpers, and VAR experts, who combines fresh talent with experience.
From Tanzania to Morocco, including regional knowledge emphasizes the breadth of officiating ability of the continent. Especially the presence of female officials such as Bouchra Karboubi highlights CAF’s dedication to diversity and progressive values.
This strong choosing process not only enhances the integrity of the tournament but also creates a standard for next ones. CAF guarantees that football in Africa keeps developing in both quality and professionalism by combining global awareness with regional representation.
These officials will be especially important in determining the direction of the sport as the tournament draws near, so motivating the next generation of players all throughout the continent
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