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AFCON 2025 Referee Announcement: Nigeria Missing as Morocco, Egypt Dominate List
As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco approaches, the question of which African nations contribute the most referees and match officials has drawn considerable attention. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently released the full roster for the tournament, and the distribution of officials highlights certain countries’ dominance in officiating roles.
AFCON 2025: Key Facts About Officials
- For AFCON 2025, CAF has appointed 73 match officials in total.
- The breakdown: 28 centre referees, 31 assistant referees, and 14 VAR / video-match officials.
- All selected officials are set to arrive in Morocco on 15 December 2025 ahead of the tournament’s kick-off on 21 December 2025.
Countries With the Most Officials - Who Leads the Pack
Based on the list of referees and officials, several nations stand out for having multiple representatives.
Top Contributors
| Country | Number of Centre Referees / Key Officials | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 2 central referees + additional assistant/VAR officials for a total of 5 officials mentioned. | As host nation, Morocco naturally has strong representation; their officials include both referees, assistant refs, and at least one VAR official. |
| Algeria | 2 central referees | Among the few with more than one centre referee, giving them a top-tier presence in officiating. |
| Egypt | 2 central referees | A long-time powerhouse in African football, reflected in their representation among match officials. |
| Mauritania | 2 central referees | A less traditional football heavyweight, their double representation is notable. |
Other Countries with Representation
Several other nations have one centre referee (and in some cases, additional assistants) each, including:
- Kenya - 1 centre referee (plus assistant / VAR officials)
- Senegal - 1 referee
- Gabon, Ghana, Mali, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and others across Central, East, Southern and West Africa - each contributing at least one centre referee.
- Eastern African representation includes referees from countries like Somalia and Uganda.
Notable Absence: Countries Left Without Officials
Perhaps the most surprising takeaway: no official from Nigeria is included among the 73.
Given Nigeria’s stature as one of Africa’s traditional football powerhouses, the omission has sparked criticism and concern among fans and stakeholders. Observers suggest it sends a stark signal about the current state of Nigeria’s refereeing and officiating standards.
What This Means for AFCON 2025 & African Football
- The concentration of multiple officials from Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, and Mauritania reflects a trend: established (or emerging) football nations with solid refereeing infrastructure tend to dominate officiating representation.
- The diverse mix - with countries from all African regions participating, supports CAF’s commitment to continental representation and officiating standards.
- For countries with weaker representation (or none at all, like Nigeria), this may signal a need to invest more in referee development, training and compliance with CAF’s technical and fitness benchmarks.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 AFCON officiating roster reveals that Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, and Mauritania lead in the number of officials, with Morocco having the most across different roles. Meanwhile, Africa’s refereeing landscape appears uneven: while some nations enjoy strong representation, others, even football heavyweights - are notably absent. For fans, analysts, and national associations alike, this distribution could shape perceptions of refereeing quality, national investment in officiating infrastructure, and perhaps influence future appointments.
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About the Author
Praise Graciebby is a content creator on Essie Book Blog, where she writes celebrity biographies, sports updates, gossip, and trending news. With a passion for entertainment and lifestyle journalism, Praise provides readers with simple, accurate, and up-to-date profiles of public figures worldwide.
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