Seven CAF Referees Selected for FIFA World Cup 2026 Duty

Seven referees from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have been officially appointed to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026, underlining Africa’s growing influence on the global football stage.

The selected match officials represent a diverse spread of the continent, with appointments from Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Morocco, Mauritania, South Africa and Somalia. The referees named are Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria), Amin Mohamed (Egypt), Pierre Atcho (Gabon), Jalal Jayed (Morocco), Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Tom Abongile (South Africa), and Omar Artan (Somalia).

Among them, Ghorbal stands out as the most experienced, having previously officiated at both the 2018 and 2022 editions of the World Cup. His inclusion brings a wealth of top-level experience, while several others will be making their debut on football’s biggest stage—most notably Somalia’s Omar Artan, whose selection marks a significant milestone for his country.

Supporting the centre referees is a strong team of assistant referees, comprising Mostafa Akarkad (Morocco), Mahmoud Abdouelregal (Egypt), Amos Abeigne (Gabon), Boris Ditsoga (Gabon), Mokrane Gourari (Algeria), Ahmed Hossam (Egypt), Elvis Noupue (Cameroon), Siwela Zakhele (South Africa), Abbes Akram (Algeria), and Jerson Santos (Angola).

In addition, two officials have been appointed as Video Assistant Referees (VAR): Ashour Mahmoud (Egypt) and Hamza El Fariq (Morocco), reflecting CAF’s continued presence in the technological side of modern officiating.

The appointments highlight CAF’s commitment to developing elite refereeing standards across Africa, while also showcasing the continent’s officiating talent on the world’s grandest football stage.

About The Author

Emmanuel Austin Baah

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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