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The Referees of AFCON 2025: Who They Are, Where They Come From & Their Road to Morocco
Latest update - what you need to know right now
CAF has published the official pool of match officials for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco 2025), covering the tournament period 21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026. The appointments include 28 central referees, 31 assistant referees and 14 VAR officials, a 73-person pool drawn from across Africa. The official list and names were released by CAF in the match-officials PDF.
CAF said the selection highlights experience and technical readiness as part of its ongoing efforts to raise refereeing standards on the continent.
Why these officials matter!
Referees shape big tournament narratives, their match control, VAR decisions and game management can influence outcomes, controversies and even coaching tactics. CAF’s 2025 appointments prioritize officials with recent experience in continental finals, FIFA competitions and VAR roles.
Top referees to watch at AFCON Morocco 2025 - quick bios
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria) - veteran enforcer and continental mainstay
One of Africa’s most visible referees in recent years, Mustapha Ghorbal has been FIFA-listed since 2014 and regularly officiates CAF Champions League finals and major FIFA assignments. Expect him in high-pressure knockout games where calm game management and VAR experience matter.
Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea (Ghana) - the Ghanaian on the big stage
Daniel Laryea is Ghana’s top international referee and is included on the 2025 AFCON officials list as the sole Ghanaian referee selected. Laryea brings domestic top-flight experience and prior AFCON/CAF appointments to Morocco 2025.
Zakaria Brinsi & Mostafa Akarkad (Morocco) - home advantage among match officials
CAF named several Moroccan referees and assistants to the officials’ pool, including Zakaria Brinsi (assistant) and Mostafa Akarkad - giving the tournament host nation representation among match officials. Local officials are often trusted for group-stage assignments and logistical advantages, while strict neutrality rules guide knockout appointments.
Other experienced names in the pool
The CAF PDF lists many experienced referees from across Africa, including officials with continental and international portfolios such as central referees and VAR specialists who have officiated Champions League fixtures and FIFA tournaments. (See CAF’s full PDF for the complete roster).
New Appointment: Bakary Papa Gassama - new CAF referees development manager
In July 2025 CAF appointed Bakary Papa Gassama (Gambia), one of Africa’s most decorated former referees, as Manager of Referees’ Development - a role aimed at improving training, consistency and standards across the continent. Gassama’s appointment is part of CAF’s larger push to professionalize officiating leading into major competitions such as AFCON 2025.
How CAF chose the 73 officials (process overview)
CAF selection is from:
- Recent performance in CAF club and national competitions (Champions League, Confederation Cup, AFCON qualifiers).
- FIFA accreditation and VAR training certifications.
- Balanced regional representation to cover all confederation zones.
- Details and the full names/roles are published in CAF’s match-officials PDF.
What to watch during the tournament
- VAR consistency: With 14 VAR officials appointed, how VAR rulings are communicated and applied will be a major talking point, particularly in penalty and red-card incidents.
- High-profile assignments: Expect CAF to reserve top referees (Ghorbal, Laryea and other seasoned officials) for knockout rounds.
- Host-nation officials: Moroccan match officials will be closely watched for neutrality and performance when the host plays.
Full list & source documents
- Check CAF official match-officials PDF (complete roster of referees, assistants and VARs).
FAQS
Q: How many referees did CAF appoint for AFCON 2025?
A: CAF named 73 match officials: 28 referees, 31 assistant referees and 14 VAR officials.
Q: Where can I find the official list of referees?
A: CAF’s official match-officials PDF (published on CAF’s website) contains the full roster.
Q: Who is Bakary Gassama and what is his role?
A: Bakary Papa Gassama (Gambia) was appointed CAF’s Manager of Referees’ Development in 2025 to lead training and standards initiatives.
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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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