CAF has released the list of 63 match officials who will officiate at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Cameroon next month, January 2022.
The list consists of 24 referees, 31 assistant referees and eight video assistant referees from 36 countries.
The tournament will kick off on Sunday, 09 January 2022 with the match between hosts, Cameroon and Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde.
CAF Director of Refereeing Eddy Maillet said: “The match officials were selected based on their experience, skills and current form. In recent months, they have been subjected to several aptitude tests through preparation courses and real competitive matches. Only the best will officiate at this extraordinary event. The roster includes two referees from the CONCACAF as part of our inter-confederation skills exchange program.”
Woman quartet, Salima Mukasanga (Rwanda), Carine Atemzabong (Cameroon), Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco) and Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco) continue the path started at the U-17 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2019 and TotalEnergies African Nations Championship 2020 (CHAN), with women referees officiating games.
All the selected match officials will complete their final preparations in Cameroon the week before the opening game. They will be closely monitored before and during the competition by a team of technical specialists and instructors.
THE FULL LIST OF MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREES
Name Country
Mustapha Ghorbal Algeria
Helder Martins De Carvalho Angola
Joshua Bondo Botswana
Pacifique Ndabihawenimana Burundi
Blaise Yuven Ngwa Cameroon
Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo DR Congo
Amin Mohamed Amin Omar Egypt
Mahmoud El Bana Zakaria Moustafa Egypt
Bamlak Tessema Ethiopia
Gassama Bakary Papa Gambia
Daniel Nii Laryea Ghana
Mario Escobar Guatemala*
Peter Waweru Kamaku Kenya
Boubou Traore Mali
Dahane Beida Mauritania
Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall Mauritius
Jiyed Redouane Morocco
Salima Mukansanga Rwanda
Maguette Ndiaye Senegal
Issa Sy Senegal
Bernard Camille Seychelles
Victor Miguel De Freitas Gomes South Africa
Sadok Selmi Tunisia
Janny Sikazwe Zambia
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Name Country
Etchiali Abdelhak Algeria
Mokrane Gourari Algeria
Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos Angola
Seydou Tiama Burkina Faso
Elvis Guy Noupue Nguengoue Cameroon
Atezambong Fomo Carine Cameroon
Soulaiman Almaldine Comoros
Liban Abdourazak Ahmed Djibouti
Oliver Safari Kabene DR Congo
Mahmoud Ahmed Kamel Abouelregal Egypt
Hossam Ahmed Taha Ibrahim Egypt
Sidibe Sidiki Guinea
Gilbert Cheriyot Kenya
Souru Phatsoane Lesotho
Attia M. Essa Amsaaed Libya
Lionel Hasinjaosoa Andriananteain Madagascar
Azgaou Lahcen Morocco
Akerkad Mustapha Morocco
Jermoumi Fatiha Morocco
Zakaria Brinsi Morocco
Arsenio Maringula Mozambique
Mahamadou Yahaya Niger
Samuel Pwadutakam Nigeria
El Hadji Malick Samba Senegal
Djibril Camara Senegal
James Fredrick Emile Seychelles
Zakhele Thusi Granville Siwela South Africa
Ibrahim Abdalla Mohammed Sudan
Issa Yaya Chad
Hassani Khalil Tunisia
Dick Okello Uganda
VAR
Name Country
Lahlou Benbraham Algeria
Abid Charef Mehdi Algeria
Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour Egypt
Fernando Guerrero Mexico*
Adil Zourak Morocco
Bouchra Karboubi Morocco
Samir Guezzaz Morocco
Haythem Guirat Tunisia
CAFoline.com
why were elfath and fischer on original list then substituted does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteAbout Elfath probably they realized too late that he couldn't have whistled Morocco games. :D I wouldn't be surprised if this is real explanation.
DeleteAbout Fischer and Millot, I don't know However Millot name is not in the list for UEFA course so maybe he was really expected in Africa but for some reasons he couldn't go.
It is possible that they were selected by FIFA for the Club World Cup.
DeleteRight... I forgot about that tournament! We will see.
DeleteI'm still trying to find out the answer to why Elfath/Fischer were listed first. I don't think it's the Morocco question. That really wouldn't be a problem, right? He could do any other group for first two matchdays and surely, if necessary, they'd find a MD3 or KO game for him. It's one team. It's the same as if he was from a country particpating.
DeleteMy gut says it is related to COVID travel restrictions. Also remember that MLS runs March-December and the season will actually start in February this year, due to Qatar 22. PRO/MLS Camp is in late January. So when you combine AFCON with potential quarantining and the uncertainties around the Omicron variant, I could see Elfath saying "thanks, but no thanks." Same would go for Fischer--perhaps even more so.
But again, that's just a guess. Will post if I find the answer with certainty.
Along the same lines, it's worth asking if the CONCACAF officials sent to AFCON will work in the MD 9-10-11 window for the Octagonal. That runs January 27, 30th and Feb 2nd.
DeleteAFCON group stage ends on January 20th and the first round KO is Jan 23-26. If the CONCACAF referee sent to Africa is getting a KO game (likely?) then he would almost certainly NOT work the next set of qualifiers. Perhaps Hall and Miami realized they wanted/needed Elfath but could save Escobar for MD 12-13-14? Or maybe Escobar will come back for MD11 (Feb 2) where Elfath will be used MD 9 or 10.
Usaref, in response to your first comment, a continental comperition (Afcon) is (and should be) more important than a domestic competition (MLS) for any WC candidate from anywhere in the world.
DeleteIf COVID wasn't a factor, I'd agree with you. I think COVID might have changed that dynamic.
DeleteAlso, I believe the assertion is nice to say theoretically. But, practically, how important is it that Elfath goes to AFCON and works 1 or 2 matches (with random ARs)? Is that really a make-or-break opportunity for him? Did Gassama going to Gold Cup matter for him? I think, in the real world, we know the actual answers to those questions. If anything, it feels more like a risk than anything. I would imagine there's nothing Escobar can do at AFCON to HELP his case for a WC spot. But there's certainly stuff he could do that would hurt it.
I do not think the referees (and I am talking about any referees, not necessarily Elfath) have personal choices once officially appointed to a FIFA or continental competition, unless injury or illness. A decline based on personal reasons is accepted, but does not look good. If you remember, Montero paid for declining a FIFA appointment due to his wedding scheduled exactly at that time - it showed lack of planning from a WC candidate at that time and consequently FIFA moved their focus to another referee. Of course, referees from important FAs can afford more than others, but, generally speaking, declining a FIFA or confederation appointment will not help that referee...
DeleteOh, ask Adam Wienckowski about personal conflicts. He had to decline the 2011 U20 WC appointment with Geiger and Fletcher. So Sean Hurd went instead. Wienckowski lost out on two World Cups because of a personal (work) conflict in 2011.
DeleteSo I know what you're talking about.
That said, the AFCON issue is, to my understanding, an exchange. If Hall initially wanted Elfath but talked it over or thought better of it... I don't think this would be a big deal. What's bizarre is that the announcement was leaked int he first place, before it was finalized. Again, makes me think it has more to do with COVID/travel issues than anything else.
Maybe there should be a second candidate from North Africa (if only for political reasons)? Probably Jiyed, who participated in U17WC 2019?
ReplyDeleteI don't know how many referees will be selected for Qatar 2022 but 6 slots for CAF are really too much. Totally undeserved
ReplyDeleteProportionally for Uefa there should be 30 officials :-)
Collina about the new offside technology and how it works:
ReplyDelete"There are 10-12 cameras that detect 29 points of players' body 50 times per second, a software analyzes the data in real time, calculating to perfection the moment in which there is the pass and the positions of players. Furthermore, the system already inserts the lines in order to highlight the offside. And then automatically sends them to the VAR Room."
He also added that there have been quite positive feedbacks so far.
Of course this can be used only when the offside is objective, in case of assessment about the influence or not, referee will still check it.
So was it used successfully at Arab Cup?
DeleteIt should mean that VAR offside checks after goals can be executed without any delay, right?
Was that visible at the tournament?
I think it was used in background, with decisions still made based on assistant referees and then VAR analysis.
DeleteThe big question about implementation is rather the future of assistant refeeres. I shared this news on social media and almost all people showed their disappointment abou this innovation. To be honest, I can't say that they are wrong.
We are coming to a future in which all humans will be replaced by machines... and that's not football anymore.
OT: who do we expect to make debut in KO stage of CL? And which games would be suitable for newcomers?
ReplyDeleteMy guesses are Siebert (surprised that he didn’t make his debut already), Jovanovic, Massa. And maybe Gozubuyuk.
Good question. In my opinion the only 100% sure name is indeed Siebert who could have got a CL KO stage even as Category 1.
DeleteHe could even get a quite sonorous game, if you ask me, given the trust by committee.
Then, about the 7 remaining names, very difficult to answer.
Having to mention a referee, I would maybe say Massa, as he got very good GS CL matches and he has big experience, then add the fact that he is only the "second" Italian Elite after Orsato, and for this reason he could find a game, but still difficult and in case only one game.
For names like Gozubuyuk, Letexier, Jovanović and Schaerer seems to be quite early, but I think you can't 100% exclude a game, however, would be really surprising.
While I'm sure the remaining two, Umut Meler and Sanchez Martinez, will not have this chance due to missing experience for the Turkish (very early promotion) and ranking for the Spanish, he is the fourth Elite referee, having three names ahead of him.
This could be the scenario (in my opinion) if committee will go on as we saw so far, otherwise of course everything is possible :)
Let's also remember the current Elite referees without a debut in CL KO stage (apart from the new 8 promoted names):
DeleteAleksei Kulbakov (BLR) Elite since June 2019
Benoît Bastien (FRA) Elite since June 2018
Ivan Kružliak (SVK) Elite since June 2019
Good note regarding Kulbakov, Bastien and Kruzliak! I would be surprised to see them in CL though…
DeleteYes, I also expect a big (tight) game for Siebert given his current appointments. :)
I would expect one the other debutants in the following games:
-Salzburg - Bayern
-City - Sporting
‘On paper’ not the most tight games.
Maybe even Chelsea-LOSC (in return). Or Benfica-Ajax, although that game could be a bit more tight IMO.
I expect TOP Elites RMA-PSG and both Italian teams. And probably a good ‘managing ref’ to be appointed on Atlético - Man Utd.
Also some very interesting fixtures in Europa League... Making appointments is not easy at all.
The FIFA Seminar for UEFA Referees on the Road to WC 2022 will take place in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from 17/01 to 21/01.
ReplyDeleteTurpin, Bastien, Delajod and Millot are the French selected officials. The first two as referees, the other two as VARs.
Source:
https://twitter.com/ArbitrezVous/status/1476179829498208256/photo/1
This explains why Millot was removed from AFCON, among other things, now we should try to know all participants... very surprised to read Bastien name as referee candidate for WC to be honest.
It’s always good to have some competition, to become an even better referee.
DeleteTo be fair, Turpin almost had no competition at all the past years :)
This is why I liked to see for example Gozubuyuk, Massa and Letexier being promoted.
Predictions MD1
ReplyDeleteCMR-BFA: Ghorbal, Etchiali, Gourari (all ALG), Traore (MLI) - Jiyed (MAR), Ibrahim (SDN)
ETH-CPV: Sy, Camara, Samba (all SEN), Omar (EGY) - Sikazwe (ZAM), Siwela (RSA)
SEN-ZIM: Bamlak (ETH), Noupue (CMR), El Regal (EGY), Waweru (KEN) - Escobar (GUA), Akerkad (MAR)
GUI-MWI: Dahane (MTN), Hassani (TUN), Maringula (MOZ), Ndabihawenimana (BDI) - Heeralali (MRI), Almaldine (COM)
MAR-GHA: El Bana, Taha (both EGY), Mahamadou (NIG), Ngwa (CMR) - Ashour (EGY), dos Santos (ANG)
COM-GAB: Ngambo, Kabene (both COD), Phatsoane (LES), Selmi - Guirat (both TUN), Ibrahim (SDN)
NGA-EGY: Gomes, Siwela (both RSA), Tiama (BFA), Camille (SEY) - N'Diaye, Samba (both SEN)
SDN-GNB: Laryea (GHA), Emile (SEY), Azgaou (MAR), Gassama (GAM) - Benbraham, Gourari (both ALG)
ALG-SLE: Sikazwe (ZAM), Andrianantenaina (MAD), Akerkad (MAR), El Bana (EGY) - Karboubi (MAR), Camara (SEN)
EQG-CIV: Heeralali (MRI), Almaldine (COM), Cheruiyot (KEN), Selmi (TUN) - Guerrero (MEX), Etchiali (ALG)
TUN-MLI: Omar (EGY), Sidiki (GUI), Amsaaed (LBY), Ngwa (CMR) - Bamlak (ETH), Ibrahim (SDN)
MTN-GAM: Mukansanga (RWA), Okello (UGA), Brinsi (MAR), Bondo (BOT) - Jiyed (MAR), Samba (CMR)
It`s time for a new thread. 199 comments have been reached in the last post. Any new subject to discuss?
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts on new Nike referee kit?
ReplyDeletehttps://amp-footyheadlines-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.footyheadlines.com/2303277221456183573/?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16415915255968&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.footyheadlines.com%2F2022%2F01%2Fnike-2022-2024-premier-league-referee.html
Looks good. Personally, in general, I like black and blue kits, love red and I dislike pink, I consider this color inappropriate for a referee, I'm glad UEFA changed it. Purple is a pretty new color I think, if I remeber well it will be used in Qatar too.
DeleteAfrican Nations Cup 2022 Cameroon
ReplyDeleteGroups
Cameroon vs Burkina Faso
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Assistant Referee 1: Etchiali Abdelhak (Algeria)
Assistant Referee 2: Mokrane Gourari (Algeria)
Fourth Official: Mahmoud El Bana Zakaria Moustafa (Egypt)
Video Assistant Referee: Adil Zourak (Morocco)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco)
Thank you Ahmed! You will do a big pleasure if you can send us all appointments during the tournament!
DeleteThank you Ahmed, any matches for Tessema?
ReplyDeleteI will be at the match this month. Look forward to! My friend and I rent suv and will soon be going on a mini trip!
ReplyDelete