AFCON 2025: Omar Artan To Be Dropped From Nigeria–Algeria Tie As Morocco Lodge Protest

AFCON 2025: Omar Artan To Be Dropped From Nigeria–Algeria Tie As Morocco Lodge Protest

Sampson Adedeji

Tension is mounting within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Referees Committee ahead of the quarter-final matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following complaints over officiating appointments, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Concerns were raised after Morocco formally lodged a protest against the appointment of an Egyptian referee as the centre official and an Algerian as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for their quarter-final fixture.

The Moroccan Football Federation is understood to have questioned the neutrality and suitability of the officials, describing the appointments as inappropriate at such a critical stage of the tournament.

The development has triggered renewed scrutiny of other referee appointments for the quarter-finals.

According to sources close to the referees committee, Somali referee Omar Artan could be dropped from the highly anticipated Nigeria versus Algeria clash if CAF decides to reshuffle officials in response to the growing controversy.

There are also indications that the officiating team for the Senegal versus Mali quarter-final could be altered.

With less than 24 hours to kick-off, reports suggest that Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal may be replaced by South African official Tom Abongile, as CAF weighs options to ease tensions and maintain confidence in officiating standards.

 The situation has fueled debate among fans and stakeholders, with many questioning the transparency and decision-making process behind the referee selections for the knockout phase.

CAF is yet to issue an official statement on the protests or the potential changes, but further adjustments are expected as the football body seeks to protect the integrity of the competition heading into the decisive stages of AFCON 2025.