CAF announces CHAN 2025 Referees, featuring 65 top officials from across Africa. Find out who will oversee this year’s biggest matches.

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.

CHAN 2025 Tournament and Refereeing Structure Overview

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.

Breakdown of Roles: Centre, Assistant, and VAR Officials

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

Meet the CHAN 2025 Referees

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

Highlights of Morocco, Algeria, and Ivory Coast

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.

Regional Representation and Global Experience

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.

Expertise and Past Contributions in Continental Tournaments

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.

Diversity in Representation among African Nations

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.

Final Observations on CHAN 2025 Referees and Their Effect on 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