CAF Ref choice sparks debate

CAF has appointed Senegalese referee Issa Sy to officiate Saturday’s AFCON 2025 quarterfinal between Algeria and Nigeria (17:00), a decision that has already stirred debate.

Sy’s nomination comes after CAF dropped Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir at the last minute. Doubts persist over the Senegalese official, who recently oversaw VAR in a controversial match that saw Tanzania denied a clear penalty.

VAR duties for the Algeria–Nigeria showdown have been handed to Gabon’s Pierre Atcho Ghislain, a familiar name for Algerian fans after past decisions that went against the Greens.

CAF’s late announcement of match officials has added to the unease, with former international referee Mohamed Zakrini pointing to backstage pressure and internal struggles within African refereeing circles.