We continue with 2025 AFCON assignments, Group Stage, Matchday 3 games.
Group Stage - Matchday 3
Group B
17:00 CET - Marrakech (Stade de Marrakech)
ZIMBABWE - SOUTH AFRICA
Referee: Mustapha Kechchaf MAR
Assistant Referee 1: Styven Danek Moutsassi Moyo CGO
Assistant Referee 2: Chany Yanes Malondi CGO
Fourth Official: Jalal Jayed MAR
Video Assistant Referee: Hamza El Fariq MAR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Zakaria Brinsi MAR
CAF Referee Assessor: Yahya Hadqa MAR
Group B
17:00 CET - Agadir (Stade Adrar)
ANGOLA - EGYPT
Referee: Clément Franklin Kpan CIV
Assistant Referee 1: Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo MAD
Assistant Referee 2: Johnathan Ahonto Koffi TOG
Fourth Official: Boubou Traoré MLI
Video Assistant Referee: Pierre Ghislain Atcho GAB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sadou Ali Brahamou NIG
CAF Referee Assessor: Ali Mulumba Tomusange UGA
Group A
20:00 CET - Casablanca (Stade Mohammed V)
COMOROS - MALI
Referee: Alhadji Allaou Mahamat CHA
Assistant Referee 1: Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue CMR
Assistant Referee 2: Amos Abeigne Ndong GAB
Fourth Official: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana BDI
Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour Hassan EGY
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdulrazg Ahmed LBY
CAF Referee Assessor: Sinko Zeli CIV
Group A
20:00 CET - Rabat (Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah)
ZAMBIA - MOROCCO
Referee: Issa Sy SEN
Assistant Referee 1: Djibril Camara SEN
Assistant Referee 2: Nouha Bangoura SEN
Fourth Official: Tanguy Patrice Mebiame GAB
Video Assistant Referee: Abongile Tom RSA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea GHA
CAF Referee Assessor: René Daniel Louzaya CGO
Tuesday 30 December 2025
Group C
17:00 CET - Rabat (Stade Olympique de Rabat)
TANZANIA - TUNISIA
Video Assistant Referee: Letticia Antonella Viana SWZ
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Carine Atezambong Fomo CMR
CAF Referee Assessor: Fatou Gaye SEN
Group C
17:00 CET - Rabat (Stade Olympique de Rabat)
TANZANIA - TUNISIA
Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo COD
Assistant Referee 1: Guylain Ngila Bongele COD
Assistant Referee 2: Gradel Mbilizi Mwanya COD
Fourth Official: Abdou Abdel Mefire CMRVideo Assistant Referee: Letticia Antonella Viana SWZ
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Carine Atezambong Fomo CMR
CAF Referee Assessor: Fatou Gaye SEN
Group C
17:00 CET - Fes (Complexe sportif de Fès)
UGANDA - NIGERIA
Referee: Djindo Louis Houngnandande BEN
Assistant Referee 1: Aymar Ulrich Eric Ayimavo BEN
Assistant Referee 2: Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim SDN
Fourth Official: Abdelaziz Bouh MTN
Video Assistant Referee: Lahlou Benbraham ALG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdalaziz Yasir Ahmed Abdalaziz SDN
CAF Referee Assessor: Lidya Tafesse Abebe ETH
17:00 CET - Fes (Complexe sportif de Fès)
UGANDA - NIGERIA
Referee: Djindo Louis Houngnandande BEN
Assistant Referee 1: Aymar Ulrich Eric Ayimavo BEN
Assistant Referee 2: Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim SDN
Fourth Official: Abdelaziz Bouh MTN
Video Assistant Referee: Lahlou Benbraham ALG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdalaziz Yasir Ahmed Abdalaziz SDN
CAF Referee Assessor: Lidya Tafesse Abebe ETH
Group D
20:00 CET - Tanger (Grand Stade de Tanger)
BENIN - SENEGAL
Referee: Samuel Uwikunda RWA
Video Assistant Referee: Abongile Tom RSA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Brighton Chimene ZIM
CAF Referee Assessor: Djamel Haimoudi ALG
20:00 CET - Tanger (Grand Stade de Tanger)
BENIN - SENEGAL
Referee: Samuel Uwikunda RWA
Assistant Referee 1: Gilbert Kipkoech Cheruiyot KEN
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe KEN
Fourth Official: Peter Waweru Kamaku KENVideo Assistant Referee: Abongile Tom RSA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Brighton Chimene ZIM
CAF Referee Assessor: Djamel Haimoudi ALG
Group D
20:00 CET - Rabat (Al Medina Stadium)
BOTSWANA - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Fourth Official: Omar Abdulkadir Artan SOM
Video Assistant Referee: Maria Packuita Cynquela Rivet MRI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dickens Mimisa Nyagrowa KEN
CAF Referee Assessor: Inácio Manuel Cândido ANG
20:00 CET - Rabat (Al Medina Stadium)
BOTSWANA - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Referee: Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall MRI
Assistant Referee 1: Arsénio Chadreque Maringule MOZ
Assistant Referee 2: Ivanildo Meirelles de Oliveira Sanches ANGFourth Official: Omar Abdulkadir Artan SOM
Video Assistant Referee: Maria Packuita Cynquela Rivet MRI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dickens Mimisa Nyagrowa KEN
CAF Referee Assessor: Inácio Manuel Cândido ANG
Wednesday 31 December 2025
Group E
17:00 CET - Rabat (Stade Prince Moulay Hassan)
EQUATORIAL GUINEA - ALGERIA
Video Assistant Referee: Pierre Ghislain Atcho GAB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Babacar Sarr MTN
CAF Referee Assessor: Evarist Menkouande CMR
Group E
17:00 CET - Rabat (Stade Prince Moulay Hassan)
EQUATORIAL GUINEA - ALGERIA
Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana BDI
Assistant Referee 1: Modibo Samake MLI
Assistant Referee 2: Diana Chikotesha ZAM
Fourth Official: Tanguy Patrice Mebiame GABVideo Assistant Referee: Pierre Ghislain Atcho GAB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Babacar Sarr MTN
CAF Referee Assessor: Evarist Menkouande CMR
Group E
17:00 CET - Casablanca (Stade Mohamed V)
SUDAN - BURKINA FASO
Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour Hasan EGY
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Haggag Hussam Azab Ibrahim EGY
CAF Referee Assessor: Sinko Zeli CIV
17:00 CET - Casablanca (Stade Mohamed V)
SUDAN - BURKINA FASO
Referee: Amin Mohamed Omar EGY
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal EGY
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam Taha Ibrahim EGY
Fourth Official: Mehrez Melki TUNVideo Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour Hasan EGY
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Haggag Hussam Azab Ibrahim EGY
CAF Referee Assessor: Sinko Zeli CIV
Group F
20:00 CET - Marrakech (Stade de Marrakech)
GABON - IVORY COAST
Fourth Official: Shamirah Nabadda UGA
Video Assistant Referee: Dahane Beida MTN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Brahamou Sadou Ali NIG
CAF Referee Assessor: Yahya Hadqa MAR
20:00 CET - Marrakech (Stade de Marrakech)
GABON - IVORY COAST
Referee: Omar Abdulkadir Artan SOM
Assistant Referee 1: Liban Abdourazak Ahmed DJI
Assistant Referee 2: Abelmiro dos Reis Montenegro STP
Video Assistant Referee: Dahane Beida MTN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Brahamou Sadou Ali NIG
CAF Referee Assessor: Yahya Hadqa MAR
Group F
20:00 CET - Agadir (Stade Adrar)
MOZAMBIQUE - CAMEROON
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdulrazg Ahmed LBY
CAF Referee Assessor: Ali Mulumba Tomusange UGA
20:00 CET - Agadir (Stade Adrar)
MOZAMBIQUE - CAMEROON
Referee: Jalal Jayed MAR
Assistant Referee 1: Zakaria Brinsi MAR
Assistant Referee 2: Mostafa Akarkad MAR
Fourth Official: Mustapha Kechchaf MAR
Video Assistant Referee: Hamza El Fariq MAR
CAF Referee Assessor: Ali Mulumba Tomusange UGA
Round of 16
Saturday 3 January 2026
17:00 CET - Tanger (Grand Stade de Tanger)
SENEGAL - SUDAN
Referee: Dahane Beida MTN
Assistant Referee 1: Jérson Emiliano dos Santos ANG
Assistant Referee 2: Ivanildo Meirelles de Oliveira Sanches Lopes ANG
Fourth Official: Clément Franklin Kpan CIV
Video Assistant Referee: Lahlou Benbraham ALG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dickens Mimisa Nyagrowa KEN
CAF Referee Assessor: Fatou Gaye SEN
20:00 CET - Casablanca (Stade Mohamed V)
MALI - TUNISIA
Referee: Abongile Tom RSA
Assistant Referee 1: Zakhele Thusi Granville Siwela RSA
Assistant Referee 2: Souru Phatšoane LES
Fourth Official: Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall MRI
Video Assistant Referee: Brighton Chimene ZIM
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Diana Chikotesha ZAM
CAF Referee Assessor: Ali Ould Lemghaifry Bouchaab MTN
Sunday 4 January 2026
17:00 CET - Rabat (Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah)
MOROCCO - TANZANIA
Referee: Boubou Traoré MLI
Assistant Referee 1: Modibo Samake MLI
Assistant Referee 2: Jonathan Koffi Ahonto TOG
Fourth Official: Samuel Uwikunda RWA
Video Assistant Referee: Issa Sy SEN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Djibril Camara SEN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Maria Packuita Cynquela Rivet MRI
CAF Referee Assessor: René Daniel Louzaya CGO
20:00 CET - Rabat (Al Medina Stadium)
SOUTH AFRICA - CAMEROON
Referee: Peter Waweru Kamaku KEN
Assistant Referee 1: Gilbert Kipkoech Cheruiyot KEN
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe KEN
Fourth Official: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo COD
Video Assistant Referee: Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea GHA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Abdalaziz Yasir Ahmed Abdalaziz SDN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Haggag Hussam Azab Ibrahim EGY
CAF Referee Assessor: Inácio Manuel Cândido ANG
Monday 5 January 2026
17:00 CET - Agadir (Stade Adrar)
EGYPT - BENIN
Referee: Pierre Ghislain Atcho GAB
Assistant Referee 1: Boris Marlaise Ditsoga GAB
Assistant Referee 2: Amos Abeigne Ndong GAB
Fourth Official: Messie Jessie Oved Nkounkou Mvoutou CGO
Video Assistant Referee: Hamza El Fariq MAR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Zakaria Brinsi MAR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Letticia Antonella Viana SWZ
CAF Referee Assessor: Ali Mulumba Tomusange UGA
20:00 CET - Fes (Complexe sportif de Fès)
NIGERIA - MOZAMBIQUE
Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire CMR
Assistant Referee 1: Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue CMR
Assistant Referee 2: Carine Atezambong Fomo CMR
Fourth Official: Tanguy Patrice Mebiame GAB
Video Assistant Referee: Haythem Guirat TUN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Khalil Hassani TUN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Abdulrazg Ahmed LBY
CAF Referee Assessor: Lidya Tafesse Abebe ETH
Tuesday 6 January 2026
17:00 CET - Rabat (Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah)
ALGERIA - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Referee: Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour EGY
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal EGY
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam Taha Ibrahim EGY
Fourth Official: Amin Mohamed Omar EGY
Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour Hasan EGY
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe KEN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Haggag Hussam Azab Ibrahim EGY
CAF Referee Assessor: Evarist Menkouande CMR
20:00 CET - Marrakech (Stade de Marrakech)
IVORY COAST - BURKINA FASO
Referee: Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail SDN
Assistant Referee 1: Liban Abdourazak Ahmed DJI
Assistant Referee 2: Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo MAD
Fourth Official: Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall MRI
Video Assistant Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal ALG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Brahamou Sadou Ali NIG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Babacar Sarr MTN
CAF Referee Assessor: Yahya Hadqa MAR
🇹🇿 TANZANIA – TUNISIA 🇹🇳
ReplyDeleteConfederation: CAF
Match Officials
Ref: Jean-Jacques Ngambo Ndala 🇨🇩
A1: Guylain Bongele Ngila 🇨🇩
A2: Mwanya Gradel Mbilizi 🇨🇩
4: Abdou Abdel Mefire 🇨🇲
VAR: Letticia Antonella Viana 🇸🇿
AVAR: Carine Atezambong Fomo 🇨🇲
Referee Assessor
Assessor: Fatou Gaye 🇸🇳
🇺🇬 UGANDA – NIGERIA 🇳🇬
CAF • TotalEnergies AFCON 2025
30 December 2025 – 16:00 GMT
Fès Stadium
Match Officials
Ref: Djindo Louis Houngnandande 🇧🇯
A1: Eric Ayimavo 🇧🇯
A2: Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim 🇸🇩
4: Abdel Aziz Bouh 🇲🇷
VAR: Lahlou Benbraham 🇩🇿
AVAR: Abdalaziz Yasir Ahmed Abdalaziz 🇸🇩
Referee Assessor
Assessor: Lidya Tafesse Abebe 🇪🇹
BOTSWANA🇧🇼 - DR Congo 🇨🇩
30 DEC, 2025 19:00 GMT
AL MEDINA STADIUM
CAF•
KING
Ahmad Imtehaz HEERALALL
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1
Arsenio Chadreque MARINGULE
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2
Ivanildo Meirelles de Oliveira SANCHES
4TH OFFICIAL
Omar Abdulkadir ARTAN
VAR
• Maria Packuita Cynquela RIVET
ASSISTANT VAR 1
Dickens Mimisa NYAGROWA
REFEREE ASSESSOR
Inacio MANUEL CANDIDO
BENIN
SENEGAL
30 DEC, 2025 19:00 GMT
TANGER STADIUM
REFEREE
Samuel UWIKUNDA
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1
Gilbert Kipkoech CHERUIYOT
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2
Stephen Eleazar Onyango YIEMBE
4TH OFFICIAL
Peter WAWERU KAMAKU
VAR
Abongile TOM
ASSISTANT VAR 1
Brighton CHIMENE
REFEREE ASSESSOR
Djamel HAIMOUDI
An amazing game between Zimbabwe and South Africa, the former team had a great performance and they could have achieved more.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, all was decided by a handball call, after OFR:
https://streamain.com/en/iTEMOBoAUQS6rvx/watch
Extremely clear when you see replay, but surely you can get confused with a header live.
Over-the-knee socks, only one knew how to wear them—an absolute legend from days gone by. My God.
ReplyDeleteLe seule qui save utilise les chaussettes montantes , Mr Nestor PITANA
DeleteExactly, one of the greatest referees of all time. I hope someone tells Sy to bring them down below the knee.
DeleteWhy should Sy do it? Pitana was not the first and will not be the last to use them like this :)
DeleteI enjoy making predictions and taking a bit of a gamble, even just for fun. Here's my guess: I think the finalists will be Amin Mohamed Omar from Egypt or Dahane Beida from Mauritania, with the final being Morocco - Ivory Coast.
ReplyDeleteMaybe at least in the last minutes, Comoros - Mali turned into a very big game (crucial for qualification), while Morocco had an easy win without any discussion against Zambia and almost no issues for Issa Sy.
ReplyDeleteHere a very crucial call in the former game, officiated by Alhadji Allaou Mahamat from Chad.
Called to OFR for a SFP.
https://streamain.com/en/sraMq2SbD8QBK4U/watch
To me, a wrong intervention by Egyptian VAR.
You can give YC but never RC.
OK, how Malian player enters in the path of opponent is dangerous, but no more than reckless action, as you could even argue that Malian player is kicked by opponent, taking this risk and not the contrary.
Still, one can try to understand why VAR called: just for the point of contact...
Absolutely wrong OFR for me as well. Mahamat should've followed Laryea's example from yesterday ago and opted for just a yellow.
DeleteOT: Does someone have information when should UEFA RAP 2025:2 were published, or if was been somewhere published yet?
ReplyDeletePenalty to Tunisia after VAR intervention:
ReplyDeletehttps://streamin.me/v/497f6cc3
I think it is safe to say that as there isn't a clear holding action (like an excessive shirt pull), this would not have triggered an OFR in UEFA competition 😀. Letticia Viana from Eswatini (Swaziland) is the VAR. I would say another rather inauspicious performance in managing the game by Ndala, the lack of alertness to the rather blatant unsporting behaviour before the penalty execution a good case in point, and the Tanzania coach should have been dismissed for confronting the referees on the FoP after the halftime whistle.
Never a clear and obvious mistake, and once again too long proceduere. This isn't how VAR should be used, I think it's now easy to say the management of VAR at this tournament is not at the previous AFCON level, for sure, it was hard to repeat but some OFRs we saw were definitely wrong. Add to this one, the red card from yesterday's game and the first OFR called by Beida in the early days. Still, not a vey poor situation because there were mostly correct and appropriate calls, but the mistakes committted were important ones.
DeleteCompletely disagree Mickael. Clear and obvious foul with dangerous pulling on neck and IMO good intervention by VAR Viana. Good teamwork here and look at the defensor booked for the offense made us clearly known that he knew here and look was guilty…
DeleteMe too ! It wasn't just a simple hold like many others seen during corner kicks; this was a clear case where an arm wrapped around the opponent's neck, pushing him to the ground with force. In my opinion, it was even visible from the field. If it wasn't seen live on the pitch, the VAR should have taken action. Such a penalty in the box couldn't go unpunished.
DeleteFrom the second half.
Delete- A rare moment of 'munity' on the FoP (57'):
https://streamin.me/v/8992cc32
- And then a potential SYC to the same player (65')
https://streamin.me/v/68f0d4c1
What Mejbri did in the 57' sequence was actually unfair, because Ndala's call was completely justified (off-the-ball SPA holding). Everything mostly calmed down in the second half, on account of Tanzania's early equaliser which made a score that suited both parties. Overall, after the opening game, another passing performance by the DRC official but again -- for what my view is worth -- I was far from convinced by his refereeing.
@Penalty/OFR: I worded my comment carefully, and I don't think it is controversial to say that this OFR would be unimaginable in a match VAR-ed by one of the top group VMOs in UEFA who control the leading games in the Champions League. I'm not really in favour of the 'drop zone' guideline, because if an offence is blatant it should be punished regardless (cf Asensio-Letexier-ArsenalQF), but at a certain point you have to ask if the Tunisian attacker realised he wasn't going to get to the ball and went down opportunistically holding his face. The overall standard of VAR-ing in this tournament has been very poor.
OFR for handball in Botswana - DR Congo, and this is a very correct one. Clear touch with raised arm, should have been spotted live by the officials. Not a good tournament for the referee from Mauritius, but he got, differently from others so far, two games.
ReplyDeletehttps://streamin.me/v/b55db768
DeleteVery long VAR check before an OFR in Benin - Senegal.
ReplyDeleteAbongile Tom invited the referee from Rwanda to rewatch a possible SFP. A stepping on heel from behind, it was quick and maybe not very stamped, you can accept red card, but once again, how long before taking a decision both by VAR before and referee at monitor.
https://streamin.me/v/a166e28e
DeleteA game of incredibly high difficulty for Samuel Uwikunda! With a calm and UEFA-like style, the referee from Rwandan handled the match in a generally quite-to-very good manner. He faced four key calls: 7' no penalty given, 38' goal awarded (both after a very long period of checking by Var Abongile Tom); 66' correct RC to Koulibaly of Senegal after a very good intervention but this time long period of checking by Uwikunda at the OFR; and finally, at +94' the referee justifiably awarded Senegal a penalty for a foul. Given his relative lack of experience (I know he was at the last AFCON but he is behind at least 10-15 names in CAF), I would judge this performance as a very positive resume for the Rwandan ref, despite some areas for improvement.
DeleteI would like to do a full clips review for readers soon!
OT: Unbelievable goal confirmed in Arsenal - Aston Villa. Clear foul on GK.
ReplyDeleteThose types of goal's are pretty much always allowed in the Premier League.... the most extreme example was probably a Luton goal against Burnley two seasons ago... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfFllFfss9A&t=154s
DeleteDarren England, what a awful ref
ReplyDeleteSudan-BurkinaFaso: Amin
ReplyDeleteEq.Guinea-Algeria: Pacifique
Gabon-Iv.Coast: Artan
Mozambique-Cameroon: Jayed
All my attention is on the Egyptian referee. Let's see if he's ready for the final.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the Egyptian ref is demonstrating a good command of the situation, showing severity and determination. The decision to award the yellow card is correct, as is the penalty, which appears well supported by the images. The goalkeeper touching the attacker in an attempt to stop him is a clear and decisive intervention.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to note that, despite lacking explosiveness and dynamism, Amin is still able to be present at the decisive moment, highlighting good tactical intelligence. We await the second half to see how the match will develop.
Do you know who designates the referees for the Moroccan tournament? What is his nationality?
DeleteVictor Gomes South African
DeleteThis should be the list of new UEFA assistant referees for 2026.
ReplyDeleteUnless some mistakes I made...
ALBANIA
Mario Shazivari
Jena Mala
ANDORRA
Eric José Machado Gomes
ARMENIA
Arman Hakobjanyan
Narek Poghosyan
AZERBAIJIAN
Əzizli Asiman
Jamil Guliyev
BELGIUM
Michael Geerolf
BELARUS
Maksim Arabei
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Laura Dugandžić
Nevena Markovic
BULGARIA
Darin Ivanov
CYPRUS
Georgios Kontemeniotis
CROATIA
Gabriela Gačić
Dario Kolarević
Ivan Starčević
CZECH REPUBLIC
Petr Kotalík
Marek Malimánek
Jan Váňa
David Zoufalý
DENMARK
Troels Christensen
Daniel Cortzen
Esad Deronjić
ESTONIA
Thor Vaas
FINLAND
Ann-Sofie Träskman
FRANCE
Siham Meriem Boudina
ENGLAND
Leoni Harland
Wade Smith
HUNGARY
Bence Péter Belicza
Laura Emerencia Szabó
ICELAND
Guðmundur Ingi Bjarnason
Rúna Stefánsdóttir
ITALY
Khaled Bahri
Laura Gasparini
LITHUANIA
Simas Kartočius
Edvardas Korotkovas
Roberta Skrockienė
Rusnė Vasarytė
LUXEMBOURG
Johnny Santos Leite
NORTH MACEDONIA
Aleksandar Gjurkovski
Filip Ickovski
Vladimir Mitrevski
Darko Vidinikj
MALTA
David Castillo
Kurt Owen Saliba
NETHERLANDS
Murat Küçükerbir
Isabelle van Gilst
NORTHERN IRELAND
Brian Wilson
NORWAY
Erland Hareland
Aleksander Jæger
POLAND
Angelika Nowak
PORTUGAL
Lisandra Taisa Reginaldo Tavares
Sara Maria da Silva Cunha
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Shane O'Brien
ROMANIA
Ioan Alexandru Corb
Ilinca Mazga
Ana Luciana Puscasu
Adrian Vornicu
RUSSIA
Dmitriy Ermakov
SCOTLAND
Hannah McLean
Victoria Reilly
SERBIA
Nikola Antić
SLOVAKIA
Ákos Juhos
Viktória Rugolská
Martinа Ukropová
SLOVENIA
Karin Florjančič
Mediha Šašivarević
Kaja Škrban
SPAIN
Nahia Alonso Fernández
SWEDEN
Sebastian Robertsson
TÜRKIYE
Murat Altan
UKRAINE
Nazariy Tsmokanych
And this should be the list of new (male) referees in other confederations:
DeleteCAF:
Gaolaolwe Kethobogile (BOT)
Edson Esoko (ANG)
Edilson Gomes (ANG)
Hedgard Juste Biel Kolondo (CMR)
Hyacinthe Emeyene (CMR)
Martin Arnold Ze Mengatta (CMR)
Ben Ali Touré (CIV)
Mohamed Altabey Elghazi (EGY)
Mahmoud Wafa (EGY)
Henok Abebe (ETH)
Haymanot Adane (ETH)
Isaac Hamisi (KEN)
Edwin Ouma Mangoli (KEN)
Adama Koné (MLI)
Lassana Tounkara (MLI)
Achraf Berrada (MAR)
Naoufal Nachite (MAR)
Thierno Dia (SEN)
Aboubacry Ndiaye (SEN)
Hery Andrianaivoarison (MAD)
Sanele Cedric Ntimane (SWZ)
Salomon Kabila Kiniatu (COD)
Lambert Museka Padibualu (COD)
Juanilson Moreira Dos Reis Borges Gomes (CPV)
Donatien Koffitse Yena (TOG)
Omer Suliman Yahia (SDN)
Mohamed Bock Tarawally (SLE)
Bassem Belaid (TUN)
Abdellaoui Fredj (TUN)
Khaled Gouider (TUN)
Haithem Trabelsi (TUN)
Adoum Abdramane (CHA)
Garinja Barbosa Lopes (GNB)
AFC:
Mohammad Huda (BAN)
Wai Lung Mario Cheung (HKG)
Rachana Kamani (IND)
Ashwin Kumar (IND)
Ali Mohammad (KUW)
Phimpha Vannasak (LAO)
Ahmad Al-Kawaldeh (JOR)
Mohammed Al-Mazyed (QAT)
Thura Zaw (MYA)
Wael Haidar (LBN)
Alongkorn Khonwai (THA)
Suhail Al-Mulla (UAE)
Khanh Nam Do (VIE)
Marwan Awwad (SYR)
Ismaeel Muhammad Fazar (PAK)
Nariman Garajayev (TKM)
Choi Cheol-jun (KOR)
Mohamad Nawal Mohammad Zubir (MAS)
John Mike Basinang (PHI)
Timothy Danaskos (AUS)
Alimardon Bainazarov (KGZ)
CONCACAF:
Richard Martín Tejada Pinzón (PAN)
Eric Guía de la Cruz (CUB)
Roger Alexander Meléndez Suárez (NCA)
Olivier Alexandre (HAI)
Wilkerson Bonnet (HAI)
Michael Venne (CAN)
César Eduardo Nolasco Quintanilla (SLV)
Rosendo Mendoza (USA)
Renlee Napoleon (LCA)
Alexi Perry (JAM)
CONMEBOL:
Oswaldo Joel Contreras Macías (ECU)
Jairo Alejandro Mayorga Londoño (COL)
Franco Jiménez Lazo (CHI)
Mathias Riquelme Sepúlveda (CHI)
Carlos Manuel Parra Guargati (VEN)
Reyes Luis Soto Aular (VEN)
OFC:
Timothy Niu (SOL)
Arnold Tari (VAN)
Boubou Traoré MLI
ReplyDeleteVAR : Issa Sy SEN
MAROC # TANZANIA
According to a rather reliable African journalist: Morocco - Tanzania as you said, then Abongile Tom referee for Mali - Tunisia, with Chimene Brighton from Zimbabwe as VAR.
DeleteTo follow, Dahane Beida assigned to Senegal - Sudan, with Lahlou Benbraham (ALG) as VAR.
Egypt - Benin: Pierre Atcho from Gabon.
DeleteVAR duties will be executed by Hamza El Fariq of Morocco.
Algeria - Congo : Mohammed Maarouf from Egypt, Var :Amin Omar Egypt
ReplyDeleteExcellent for both
Deleteتعيينات حكام دور ثمن النهائي كأس أفريقيا
ReplyDelete- دحان بيدا SEN# SDN
- توم أبونجيل MLI#TUN
- بوبو تراوري. MAR#TZN
- بيتر واويرو. CMR#RSA
- بيير أتشو EGY#BEN
- ا---------------- NGR#MZB
- محمد معروف ALG#CGO
- محمود اسماعيل CIV#BFO
OT: After the successful trial with Munuera Montero in the Andalusian derby, CTA-RFEF appoints again a "local" referee for a derby: 31 y.o. non-FIFA Víctor García Verdura will handle the Catalan derby Espanyol - Barcelona.
ReplyDeleteQuite risky appointment besides the "breaking regional barriers" stuff, the match is expected to be quite hot both on and off the field as it will be Joan García's first return to RCDE Stadium since his controversial transfer to Barcelona in the last summer window, widely regarded as a betrayal among Espanyol fans who intend to welcome him on a similar fashion Barcelona fans did to Luís Figo 25 years ago after his transfer to Real Madrid.
FIFA, following the political maneuvering of someone very powerful, decided to include Andrés Rojas from Colombia in the pre World Cup seminar. This was despite the fact that he didn't officiate at the U20 World Cup, following a request by Enrique Cáceres. With this move, the selection of the other candidates was not affected.
ReplyDeleteWilmar Roldan mérite d'être sélectionné
DeleteAbsolutely crazy match Al Ahli - Al Nassr, referee Irfan Peljto, two red cards, a very demanding derby, but I also stand out for the Bosnian referee's performance
ReplyDeleteUse of VAR is diferrent way from Europe.Ref dont use VAR signal when VAR int NO offside\DOGSO situtation
DeleteI find a strong physical and stylistic resemblance between Dahane Beida and the former Portuguese referee Pedro Proença.
ReplyDeleteWe can notice outstanding performance by Angolese AR1 with amazing good decisions.
DeleteLaw-enforcer approach by Abongile Tom, two yellow cards in the early 6 minutes of the game...
ReplyDeleteA game full of fouls, now an extremely brave RC decision by the referee from South Africa. More than a step on foot, with studs high. I think you can give it but maybe for the intensity VAR wouldn't have intervened in case of YC.
ReplyDeleteVery brave decision by SA ref. Don’t understand why he ´s not on fifa WC prelist. Very calm and strong performance by Tom Abongile.
DeleteVideo:
Deletehttps://streamain.com/en/LBKrpRdPTeS6Cwq/watch
Rewatching it, I must praise the referee, it's a mandatory for me, because after the first contact, the foot of the opponent is fully under the studs in a very unnatural and dangerous movement. Better for VAR to intervene if red card not issued by referee.
The red card is a very good decision that deserves a lot of praise. Difficult contact to see at full speed.
DeleteThe red card is sacred.
ReplyDeleteA yellow card would have required VAR intervention.
ReplyDeleteVery frenetic style by the referee from South Africa but he got two great crucial decisions right. Now penalty to Mali in 90'+2.
ReplyDeleteI can't support the penalty. The defender is trying to head the ball and misjudges its flight; he is off-balance and the arm is in a natural position for attempting the header. Maybe it is just subjective enough to not go to review, but this isn't a handball.
DeleteCompletely false analysis. Clear body increase handball movement. Clear pk.
DeleteHand-to-ball! The defender was panicking as the attacker had got goalside of him and tried to slyly push the ball away; refanalyst is 100% correct. There are some not inexstensive criticisms of how Tom managed the game, but one can only say a very sincere bravo for these two perfect and extremely courageous key calls.
DeleteHere the clip:
Deletehttps://streamain.com/en/wtiO4Tp8IaTa5wm/watch
I suggest to watch the movement when defender realized he had missed the ball by head, he moved the arm to touch it.
A very good positioning helped the referee in spotting it.
Agree Mikael. With goal cancelled by AR1, all keys decisions onfield are 200 % correct and brave ! So bravo to Tom Abongile ´s team in a very very challenging match…
DeleteI still disagree, the movement of the arm is very small and can be entirely attributed to the player’s lack of balance.
DeleteOUTSTANDING TOM ! What a match ! What a brave refereeing from 1 to 90 ! Well done mister !
ReplyDeleteThanks for these quick links for the situations. Where are they found? In case they wouldn’t be posted so quickly here the next time?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have a video of the 90’+2’ YC given to Tunisia? The commentators and I thought that this yellow card was given to Tunisia #4, and only realized when #4 received a yellow card later on that the 90’+2’ YC belongs instead to Tunisia #5.
ReplyDeleteVideos of the other YCs, especially early in the match, would also be appreciated.
https://streambug.org/cv/de5759
DeleteThank you, definitely to #5 if anything, but wrong foul in general.
DeleteOne more point on the Mali red card, I think we have to praise mostly the assistant referee Souru Phatšoane for spotting this decision: if you notice, Tom originally gives the free kick the other way, and then is looking back and forth at the AR2 many times as his hand goes from pocket to pocket before finally settling on the red card.
ReplyDeleteIt looks more like that he is looking at the Tunisian player.
DeleteNo penalty decision to Tunisia in 59':
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/444aa9
Here a compilation of all Abongile Tom cards, unless the ones given in the already posted incidents: 26' SFP, 59' dissent after PAI, 90'+2 SPA.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/e8954c
A short analysis of the South African referee in this match, and I want to add that it was the first time I watched him so closely.
ReplyDeleteI believe that, in the context of a game managed in a basically very raw manner, he showed moments that clearly demonstrated he could have interesting skills, which, however, in this match remained somewhat isolated moments, due to his approach. He decided to issue cautions and hand out cards from the very start without looking at anything else, and this can sometimes make a game complex. Nonetheless, he was fairly consistent with the line he chose and did not backtrack, at least not in a very evident way. The performance was not perfect, approaching every match this way is certainly a bit risky, but for those who are refereeing enthusiasts, surely good qualities are under the eyes, especially in key decisions. If we then take the benchmark of evaluations often made by the top refereeing heads nowadays, this performance, despite being rough, could be rated as excellent (high standard for CAF refereeing). Putting aside the path of the South African national team, I think it's reasonable to expect another appearance from him.
Last clip, one of the most evident mistakes in his game is surely this YC for reckless, not given:
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/b04188
IMO that was the only clear mistake in an extremely challenging match. Tom knew exactly what he was doing. His consequent approach from the first minutes on secured his control of the game, which could have been a war with a lenient approach. He never lost his authority, prevented bigger confrontations and was respected by the players. Good body language and communication. It's a pity that he was not invited to the 2nd seminar for the world cup, but maybe refs who consequently enforce the lotg are not really supported by FIFA anymore? If that is the case, it would be a bad sign....
DeleteI find it quite funny that people are questioning FIFA decision based solely on this one good game and ignoring Tom performances in recent years.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Even in the match yesterday, which I would conclude was a good (and in some respects deeply impressive!) performance, he showed quite significant deficiencies in managing the game. The opening yellow card of the game was not a good decision - the Mali player did commit a striking offence, but I don't see any scope for determining what he did as 'reckless', he was just feeling out an opposition player who was tracking him. In refereeing, you must always award cards because you WANT to, not because you feel to HAVE to - this call fell into the latter category. To use this incident, at 4' (!!), as an opening caution for the game is not good. The yellow card at 7' is perfect, and would have been a brilliant opening booking. Then, the yellow card at 17' comes (surely from Herelall's input given he presses push-to-talk) after advantage, without 'signposting' at all by the referee - it makes Tom's decisions look too chaotic and not predictable. At 19', there was a borderline-to-reckless incident which resulted only in a freekick, which is okay. Then, I would argue the YC at 23' is not really correct: the referee is supposing that a step on foot offence occured, but the replays show that no such contact existed and the challenge was careless. At this point, the referee has awarded four yellow cards, and I'm not really sure that he has brought the game much more into his grasp (reminds me of Al-Ghamdi in Switzerland-Chile/2010); his decisions were more reactive than proactive, and manner more frenetic (perfect term used by Chefren!) than calming. The game mostly quietened down after the SFP call, which was a deeply impressive decision. Tom's performance in DRCongo-Benin was the same, btw: a very good willingness to award YCs, but with a stronger/firm body language, he could have brought more calmness to the match and have trimmed the number of sanctions he needed to use. Both games were apparently beget by VAR communication problems too -- even if the media completely misinterpreted one incident in the GS clash -- as far as I can remember, only Tom’s two matches have had these issues (but I’m not supposing it is anything more than a coincidence).
DeleteSO: I’m the first person who is happy when the referee applies Law12 in a strict, unwavering manner and for both that and the two big decisions, the SA ref should be highly praised. However, the picture is not completely rosy when you take into account the whole game. It is rather likely that Abongile Tom will still go to the WC by the way, he is one of five pre-selected VMO candidates from CAF (with the exception maybe of Rivet, I don’t think the female candidates are offering much rivalry for 2026).
And finally, as nobody mentioned it: VERY good performance by Beida yesterday, who handled Senegal-Sudan in a near-faultless manner. It was surely lost on ’normal viewers’, but referee fans would have seen how alert the Mauritanian official was from the very first minute of the match, ensuring that this game did not degenerate at any point; which with a lesser ref in charge, it would have. Gerson dos Santos from Angola also ran the line excellently and would deserve a very high mark (see below the three key scenes). This trio, Beida in tow with the two Angolan linesmen, are ready to handle one of the tournament’s biggest matches next, like a suppositional semifinal Morocco-Algeria/Nigeria/DRC.
https://streambug.org/cv/4bb5d5
https://streambug.org/cv/bcb31a
https://streambug.org/cv/7c8575
Thanks for the clips. Excellent performance by AR1, extremely rare at this tournament for the officials working on the lines with flags!
DeleteI must say only based on that, he would deserve the final so far.
But if we have to make a criticism about VAR at this tournament, it's definitely the fact that they need too long time before every final decision, here in the first incident you can see with human eye the offside, so hard to understand why they needed so long before confirming no penalty.
How do you assume, that I saw Tom 1st time yesterday? Even in qualification for WC he did a good job IMO!
DeleteAfter the well-known events between Udinese and Lazio, Massa had a difficult refereeing day today in the big Serie A match.
ReplyDeleteThe players from the capital city team were really difficult to manage, and clearly nervous.
The match was actually one-sided from the start, with the first half virtually over, and the second half where little or nothing happened from a footballing perspective. But a lot happened from a refereeing perspective.
Unfortunately, the Ligurian once again paid the price for his on-field approach, a referee who always gave me the impression of being somewhat annoyed by having to interact with the players, a referee who often makes very good technical decisions, but who rarely does anything else beyond technically conducting a match.
This is the aspect that has historically been missing from him, not allowing him to take a big step forward for officiating at a major tournament: on the one hand, it's disappointing.
In particular about today game, the free kick leading to the 0-2 score for a handball just outside the box looked rather wrong. A second yellow card for Noslin was quite harsh, not fully reckless challnge, but not fully wrong either. This was followed by repeated mass confrontations where the referee only took action at the end. He didn't give the impression of a top international official, imposing himself on everyone. Today, perhaps, he was unprepared, but for me, his style was under the sun once again. This, unfortunately for him, clipped his wings for something big during the full career.
As I wrote a few days ago, unfortunately a lot of matches in Serie A are influenced by some refereeing decision. I believe that Massa, despite his poor performance, will have no problems today: Napoli dominated and his mistakes (the free kick that led to the 2-0 and the wrong RC) were not decisive. Yesterday there was another poor performance in Atalanta-Roma. Until recently, I always defended Rocchi, because if the average standard is low, it cannot be his fault. Lately, however, I wonder if a certain tendency to forgive all mistakes regardless, even while admitting them, does not contribute in some way to these performances: a few days ago, for example, Rocchi commented on a clear penalty not given in Roma-Genoa (the Roma goalkeeper came out empty-handed and punched an opponent in the face, knocking him down) saying that it was not an easy call. Either Rocchi has so little faith in the referees available that he does not believe they can make the right decisions even when the decisions are easy (but that seems strange to me), or this tendency to ignore mistakes can make the problem worse, because it pretends that everything is fine. I wouldn't be surprised if Rocchi said that Fabbri/Maresca and Massa refereed very well.
DeleteHow is that offside at Atalanta 2nd goal that was cancelled by Fabbri after OFR? The ball comes from big distance and has a predictable trajectory, the defender had time to react.
DeleteA nice advantage at Inter 1st goal from Guida.
No possibility of passing to a teammate. No control of the ball.
DeleteMy fears proved to be well-founded: the AIA deemed all the decisions made over the weekend to be correct. Nowadays, mistakes are either deemed correct or downplayed. Unfortunately, this does not do referees any favours: you cannot grow if you always absolve yourself.
Delete20' should be a penalty to Morocco after a very late challenge by keeper.
ReplyDeleteAgree, missed penalty (+YC for reckless).
DeleteVideo if possible please.
DeleteI would like to see the video if possible; I like penalty there, but I don’t think it’s reckless, no contact with the head, just the body. However, I can see why it’s not given, under the philosophy that it “had no impact” (a principle which I don’t personally believe in, but one must acknowledge its existence)
DeleteThe 90’ challenge not being a red card is so symbolic of how this tournament has been refereed, crazy jumping into the contact but because the point of contact is low, it’s ok :)
ReplyDeleteI was completely unsurprised that this challenge wasn’t reviewed after the one in Nabadda’s game (which was essentially similar) wasn’t also reviewed.
You can only give a red for excessive force there (döfailed contact). The actual contact in itself was reckless. But the force he flew with is excessive.
DeleteDifficult situation for Traore to manage at the end of added time with the Tanzanian bench protesting for a nonexistent penalty. Hard to believe only one yellow card issued in all of that (another technical staff member was making a very big VAR sign in his face - I think he should have gotten a YC too) but not to be overly critical, I think this is a difficult situation to manage because there are probably a half dozen people in that technical area who could have earned a yellow card.
ReplyDeleteGamondi's behaviour at 68' already completely warranted an expulsion, and if you see the way he screamed in the Malian linesman's face after the (quite correct) non-award of that penalty, it a real blight that the Argentine coach was allowed to behave in such a disgraceful manner with no punishment at all. Whenever Busacca(/Collina) finally run out of time at FIFA, the next person running international refereeing really ought to launch a revolution on benches behaviour, because he/they clearly don't care at all. Benches management was an extremely minor issue in refereeing 15yrs ago, and it has only allowed to get out of control by the sheer dereliction of those in charge. The booking at 90' is also a textbook SFP, but even in UEFA this would surely only be yellow these day. OVERALL, the same story as Nigeria-Tunisia for Traore: generally steady decisions, lacking an X-Factor in (m)any aspects, but helped A LOT by his general impression of 'reasonable, honest guy trying his best' which was understood by the players. You will never, ever find the last factor in any report at any level, but it really does count for much!
DeleteWhere can videos be found of all these critical incidents such as red cards, penalties etc? I don’t have the channel for this tournament so all I see are the incidents.
ReplyDeleteVAR controversy in Ful v Liv.. looks like the semi automatic offside has failed and allowed a goal by Wirtz when it’s clearly offside.
ReplyDeleteAndy Madley as var.
Nonsense. They showed the image generated by the SAOT and it was onside. You could see from the still images it was an incredibly close call
DeleteWOW, 22' in South Africa - Cameroon, a dissenting gesture that would have been a very mandatory YC in UEFA. A referee closing the eyes on that would be excluded from assignments for 1 or 2 matchdays.
ReplyDeleteThe referee from Kenya reacted with a rather particular facial expression, but this was definitely not enough!
Rosetti would have already marked him with 6.9.....
I was watching Mallorca vs. Girona with Alberola Rojas.
ReplyDeleteI only have one observation: What a great referee Spain has! Again after Mateu.
2 very well-awarded penalties on the field and 3 correctly applied yellow cards.
We are seeing the Present and Future of the CTA in action!
MOROCCO - TANZANIA
ReplyDeleteReferee: Boubou Traoré MLI
20' Penalty area incident, no VAR intervention
https://streambug.org/cv/c0f9e9
For me a penalty to be whistled live by referee.
The argument reported above by DayStare9 must be considered, because very often used but in reality not belonging to LotG. Ball gone, no effect after the late challenge...
I would have liked a VAR intervention as well, but before than that, the referee should have whistled for sure.
90' Possible RC for SFP
https://streambug.org/cv/9b2017
Here what makes the red card an appropriate decision is definitely the way how player enters the challenge, extremely quick and with excessive force / speed. This enough would be enough, apart from the possible point of contact, but we can easily draw conclusion that VAR reasoned only on this last aspect I mentioned, and this happens very often in modern officiating. A red card like this is very rare to be suggested by VAR because in the end nothing really serious happens to the player, but one shouldn't look only at that. I also think this is a different one than Nabadda's game, this one being by far more red card, given how player entered challenge. But still, given how games are officiating today in top football, maybe it will be assessed as OK decision by VAR to stay silent, with more blame (hopefully) on referee. Nothing against him, of course, but judging on his assessments.
90'+2 Penalty area incident, then management
https://streambug.org/cv/01075f
Here I have to agree once again with Mikael: there is a huge problem with the management of the benches in modern football. Now we can also take a small step back from this particular incident, which in the end is not that different from many others we have already seen, please remember Champions League in some very well known stadiums and so on. You see a referee going right into the heart of the bench area at the touchline to caution a player or a member of the staff, while there are another 11 or 12 people shouting at him, yelling and protesting, it is truly the image of total uselessness.
There is no point in proceeding step by step with yellow cards first and then red cards for members of the bench. We have understood that nobody really cares about what a referee does in such circumstances; on the contrary, a referee who goes to caution a member of the staff or a protesting player is, in most cases, mocked and shouted at. And nobody wants to do anything about it.
These initiatives must come from FIFA, and maximum severity must be imposed, because otherwise referees, especially at club level but as well as in international football, lose a lot if they take personal initiatives, since they inevitably end up feeling isolated in the decisions they make. I believe that this excessive leniency is ruining football, because scenes like these are unacceptable. Either you go and send everyone off, or you really change the rules to make them much stricter for all. About the technical incident itself, it is correct not to award a penalty, but everything that follows is very sad from a refereeing point of view. Nevertheless, nothing new.
Short comment on the referee from Mali rewarded with second game after a rather not good first appearance: he definitely got more than what he could have achieved, but Mikael is right when he says that basically he did the maximum according to his abilities, so maybe not a big blame to do, he got the honor of KO stage, already something big I would say at that point.
Unacceptable for RSA #9's physical confrontation with the assistant referee to result in anything less than a straight red card.
ReplyDeleteWhy are the referees at the Africa Cup so lenient when players protest or demand a yellow card?
ReplyDeleteThat thing disturbs my head African referees are weak at handling dissent all the time fake smiles seriously?? That's why Amim omar beats them,referees should know that they aren't ice-cream sellers to make every one happy
DeleteIn a perfect UEFA-world the European refs would not tolerate dissent and angry protests at all. But U know what: The reality is different. The level of CAF-refereeing is better than some posts here suggest. They have definitely improved since Gomes from RSA took over. About AFC I am not so sure.
DeleteDo you have any news about the Uefa Winter Referee Seminar for Elite and (maybe) first class ? Where ? When ? Who ?
ReplyDeleteCollaboration between gabonese ref and his countrymen AR is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE. We have almost 4/5 situations to overruling raising flags by referee with sometimes quite nervous body language. This isn’t WC standard by trio and by Atcho…Very poor in this side !
ReplyDeleteI have had this EGY-BEN game on in the background at work, only paying half attention. Very curious to read a full analysis after the fact from anyone who watched it all, as it seems like there’s been lots of incidents.
ReplyDeleteIn one example, I think the challenge in the 108’ minute should have seen a red card.
Off the top of my head I'd highlight: 55' penalty not given for handball to Egypt (wrongly?), 100' penalty not given for handball to Benin (rightly) and then the 108' reckless vs SFP incident you mention. Overall okay-ish performance by Atcho but imo this game ascertains that he is too technically weak to be a main referee at the WC.
Delete55min: https://streamin.me/v/a72d0edc
Delete100min: https://streamin.me/v/bc46f382
108min: https://streamin.me/v/403d5230
(NGA MOZ) I'm surprised that the officials have allowed the balls behind the goal line (on AR1s side) to be so close (almost on!) to the pitch. Usually even with the multiball system they are a bit further away to not impact play (and Goal line tech/SAOT where used)
ReplyDeleteAnd just after I've typed this they've moved them!
DeleteThe blog is very powerful :)
DeleteSkills Issue!!!
ReplyDeleteSo far AFCON Round 16 has not been easy for Referees and they became main topic from the tournament which is big problem
There is clear hierarchy among referees. A small group, perhaps three to five officials are genuinely top level. Beneath them is a large gap, with many referees operating at an average or below average standard. The most concerning problems are technical skill deficiencies, poor player management, and weak communication between referees and assistant referees.
South Africa vs Cameroon
In the match officiated by the Kenyan referee Peter, several concerns were evident. His body posture, gestures, and carding mechanics reflected a grassroots level approach rather than elite international refereeing. Even more worrying was his tolerance of dissent, which was excessive and unacceptable at this stage of the competition. It suggested either a lack of authority or a refereeing culture that has normalized dissent.
A key incident involved South Africa’s number 9 placing his hand on the assistant referee. The assistant referee clearly extended his arm to show distance and indicated that the shove warranted a red card. However, only a yellow card was issued. At this level, any physical contact with a match official should result in a sending-off. The failure to protect the assistant referee was deeply disappointing and set a dangerous precedent.
Morocco vs Tanzania
In another match, refereed by Abubakar Torre, my focus shifts more toward assistant referee and VAR performance, particularly involving Issa from Senegal. I rate Issa highly as an on field referee, but his performance as VAR was concerning. A clear incident of serious foul play in the 90th minute was missed. There is no convincing explanation for why this was not reviewed or punished with a red card. At this stage of the tournament, such an error is unacceptable and undermines confidence in VAR. Regarding the penalty decision, on first viewing, it appears to be a clear penalty, and the expectation at this level is that it should be given. Upon closer review, the details may suggest otherwise, but the referee’s poor positioning meant he had no clear view of the incident. In that situation, the assistant referee must have the confidence to intervene and communicate decisively.
Looking ahead to the quarterfinals and semifinals, I strongly hope for improved referee appointments. In my view, most referees who officiated in the Round of 16 should not continue further in the tournament.
These are officials I trust the most are quarterfinals and semifinals
Omar Artan ( Somalia )
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria )
Issa Sy ( Senegal )
Dahane Beida ( MTN )
Mohamed Eid Mansour (EGY)
Dahane Beida (Mauritanie)
DeleteIgnoring that this is a text made by an LLM, the seven referees who could expect an appointment to the remaining matches in the QF-SF-Final imo are: Amin (egy), Artan (som), Beida (mtn), Ghorbal (alg), Jayed (mar), Ndala (drc) and Sy (sen). Unless someone in this group goes straight to the final, then at least one referee will finish disappointed and without a further 'live' appmnt. It would be prudent to use referees whose teams qualified for the last eight, in the quarterfinals, in order not to lose them completely - so I guess the result of Maarouf's match tomorrow will be important for what happens next. Among these seven, I would personally give lesser precedence to Artan (unconvincing in Gabon-CIV) and moreover Ndala (unconvincing in both group games).
DeletePredictions:
DeleteQF
Mali-Senegal & Egypt-Ivory Coast: Ghorbal & Jayed
Algeria-Nigeria & Cameroon-Morocco: Omar & Sy
SF: Artan & Ndala (or maybe Beida)
Sum up of first minutes by Mansour (EGY) : to whistle but not more. Very lenient style with almost 2 -3 potentials YC (8’, 15´ and 16’) and no VAR intervention in a very doutbful situation in penalty area for Algeria (shoe dismissed by defender).
ReplyDeletePenalty area incident: https://streamin.me/v/c9247902
Delete8' was definitely reckless and should have been a booking, but the rest were fine imo. Overall, Maarouf's performance was decent.
Plenty missed fouls and this style of refereeing is not worthy of a knock out phase.
ReplyDeleteHonestly he's trying to avoid cards and there hasnt been a bad foul or spa which 100% warranted a card. Whilst the game is even he's got away with it, but if either team scores, it could get out of hand
ReplyDeleteThat's right,with his good samaritan approach it is working while 0 0 is the score..
DeleteWhen 1st team scores all hell could broke loose.
Agree and now strict approach and four YC during first extra time (all deserved) but quite weird and completely different from 90 minutes before. Also foul detection not very good and irregular.
DeleteBurkina Faso asking for a foul before 1-0 by Ivory Coast.
ReplyDeleteI think nothing here. VAR should support.
Many protests, the referee from Sudan hasn't been accepted so far (even before this crucial incident).
Nobody has mentioned the critical decision in the 5th minute NOT to send off BFA #4 for DOGSO. This was a mistake by Mahmood, but perhaps there was enough doubt for Ghorbal to issue the check complete?
DeleteI don't know. I think in many competitions, the VAR would recommend a review on a play like this.
5min, potential DOGSO: https://streamin.me/v/084c05e5
Delete20min, pot foul bef/goal: https://streamin.me/v/72a30e50
79min, pot second YC: https://streamin.me/v/a5990164
Overall, a very poor Afcon for Ismail who didn't actually manage to improve on his disappointing GS performance - really struggling to find appropriate card choices (again, absolutely terrible balancing today) and also some simply poor decisions. Of the nine WC candidates, he has been by some distance the weakest official.
5' in my opinion YC for SPA is expected decision, if RC by referee, to be supported but for me severe
Delete20' nothing before the goal, referee struggling for being accepted
79' classic reckless YC not given in modern refereeing, here the intensity is not that high but a very clear late tackle on opponent, so...
Honestly far too many soft free kicks in these afcon games. It seems like the refs are so afraid of making a mistake that every bit of contact on a defender results in a foul. Leads to games with 35/40+ fouls and the games are not a good watch as a result
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to hear from FIFA instructors -- and I mean this as not a barbed question, but a sincere one -- did the VAR decide correctly in this episode, or should he have acted differently (either stayed silent or somehow managed to get the fk awarded)?
ReplyDeleteThe incident is from the Algeria-DRC match:
https://streamin.me/v/654ddc47
[WC-candidate Ashour, apparently unrejected after Comoros-Mali, was the VAR].
Very good question, indeed it's a middle way we can't accept.
DeleteThis story about corner kicks checked by VAR is intriguing...
Quarte de finale
ReplyDeleteMaroc _ Cameroon Amine Omar
Senagal _ Mali Ghorbal mostafa
Algerie _ Nigeria omar artan
Egyote _ Cote d hivoire jallal jyad
There are only a few matches left; we are at the final showdown. Essentially, I am not convinced by African referees at all. In my humble opinion, the most prepared and effective ones are those from the Maghreb plus Egypt. Strict, not indulgent, proactive, and good at technical reading. You'll understand that I hope to see them officiate the remaining matches. In the final I hope to see Omar.
ReplyDeleteNapoli goal at around minute 72. Ball touches arm accidentally and he scored immediately after. Goal correctly disallowed. But this law is absolutely ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteParma vs Inter minute 15. Heavy fog. Blatant incorrect offside decision as the player was not in an offside position AND also in his own half.
ReplyDeletePenalty not given in Lazio-Fiorentina at 19'. People often complain about the behaviour of Lazio players (rightly so, because many players deserve a red card per game for their protests), but it is also true that for a couple of months now they have been suffering almost a crucial mistake per game...
ReplyDeleteAnd now a penalty with VAR after a simulation by the Fiorentina player. Unbelievable. Never seen anything like it.
ReplyDeleteLots of Key match incidents tonight in the PL.
ReplyDeleteI thought Salisbury had a very good performance with two handball penalties confidently called on field in what was otherwise a very entertaining game
DeleteHim and Harrington are under-used in the PL imo.
DeleteWhat happened in Lazio–Fiorentina is a perfect summary of Italian refereeing and the current situation: a nightmare performance by Sozza, with an unbelievable penalty not awarded to Lazio for a big holding inside the box right in front of goal, an incident for which a UEFA referee would be suspended, followed shortly after by an OFR with the classic penalty hunting by attacker that belongs to the Italian mentality.
ReplyDeleteRocchi's season has been an absolute disaster, first of all in terms of VAR; it was thought it would be hard to do worse than a certain standard, but it happened.
And Sozza very often presented as good refere, totally lost himself in recent times.
Last night on Sky, Caressa complained not only about the quality of refereeing this season, but also about Rocchi's tendency to cover up or downplay every mistake: ‘At Open VAR, they make up some convoluted story to justify themselves, even if it contradicts everything they said before, and in the end, they never admit they were wrong.’ Rocchi will certainly justify the penalty given in Lazio-Fiorentina and say that the one not given on Gila is a mistake but not a serious one, and then shift the focus with some catchy phrases (‘if you don't believe in us, I'm ready to leave!’ or something like that).
DeleteAlso,too many times Lazio is on the back foot of bad decisions towards them.
DeleteWe had handball vs Udinese, 2 RC's vs Parma,RC's vs Napoli,no penalty vs Milan,and so on...
Possible penalty for holding in the area Lazio. https://streamable.com/2272au
ReplyDeleteIt is very sensitive situtation.IMO clear PK.VAR must be int.
DeleteMali vs Senegal will be officiated by Abongile Tom tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteSo far, this remains the only official refereeing appointment confirmed for the AFCON 2025 quarterfinals.
The remaining matches are still awaiting official referee announcements.
I am expecting either Beida Dahane or Amin Omar not to be in the quarters in a potential Morocco-Algeria SF that I expect will be refereed by one of them!
Deletebut indeed a very weird appointment .. Abongile gets Mali twice in a row..
DeleteJust like Ghorbal did in 2019 with Senegal
DeleteReally impressive from ferrer in the madrid derby so far. Letting the game flow and not falling for any antics. Players seem to be accepting him
ReplyDeleteLatest information about Early Leaks and Internal Tension CAF Referees Camp in Morocco!
ReplyDeleteReferee appointments were reportedly shared internally days before any official release, leading to widespread speculation and unnecessary pressure. The leaked information suggested the following assignments
🇸🇳 Senegal vs 🇲🇱 Mali Referee Gorbal from 🇩🇿 Algeria
🇲🇦 Morocco vs 🇨🇲 Cameroon Referee Amin from 🇪🇬 Egypt
🇩🇿 Algeria vs 🇳🇬 Nigeria Referee Omar Artan from 🇸🇴 Somalia
🇪🇬 Egypt vs 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast Referee Jalal from 🇲🇦 Morocco
After the leaked information Multiple FAs submitted concerns to the CAF Referees Committee appointed in quarterfinals. Most notably, the Moroccan FA formally requested reconsideration of appointing an Egyptian referee for a Morocco fixture.
Tensions inside the camp escalated further after a senior referee reportedly clashed with committee officials over equipment regulations
In a final briefing, referees were told to monitor their emails for surprise assignments. CAF then publicly released only one appointment
🇲🇱 Mali vs 🇸🇳 Senegal assigned to the same referee who officiated Mali in the previous round, prompting questions about consistency and best practice.
Subsequently, referees received private confirmation that
🇲🇦 Morocco vs 🇨🇲 Cameroon would instead be officiated by a Mauritanian referee, contradicting earlier information.
As of now, CAF has not confirmed the referees for
🇩🇿 Algeria vs 🇳🇬 Nigeria
🇪🇬 Egypt vs 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
Referees remain in a state of uncertainty, repeatedly checking emails for confirmation at a critical stage of the tournament.
Confirmation Omar Artan is the referee reported to CAF by Puma after he wore Adidas cleats while officiating the Gabon vs Ivory Coast match.
DeleteDue to equipment and sponsorship discipline regulations, there is a high likelihood that he may not officiate again for the remainder of the tournament.