The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jiyed to take charge of the crucial third-place playoff match between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Egypt's Pharaohs at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
All-Moroccan Officiating Team for High-Stakes Clash
The match, scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Rabat, will see Jiyed lead an all-Moroccan on-field team. He will be assisted by linesmen Zakaria Brinsi and Mostafa Akarkad. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) role has been assigned to Algerian official Lahlu Benbraham.
Benbraham will be supported in the VAR room by Tunisian referee Haythem Guirat and Moroccan official Hamza El Fariq, creating a multinational video officiating crew for the encounter.
Appointment Draws Scrutiny Amid Tournament Tensions
CAF's decision has immediately sparked conversation and scrutiny due to recent tensions surrounding officiating and scheduling at AFCON 2025. The appointment is particularly sensitive given the recent semifinal experiences of both teams.
Nigeria suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to host nation Morocco after a goalless draw, with many Nigerian fans and players alleging officiating bias. Super Eagles forward Akor Adams bluntly blamed the refereeing for the loss as he left the stadium.
Meanwhile, Egypt endured a narrow 1-0 semifinal loss to Senegal. Following the match, Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, publicly questioned the tournament's organization. He suggested that "some parties did not want Egypt to reach the final," citing uneven scheduling and travel demands that disadvantaged his team compared to Senegal.
Redemption Mission for Super Eagles and Pharaohs
Both nations now enter the bronze medal match with a determined focus on ending their campaigns on a positive note. For Nigeria, the game offers a chance to bounce back emotionally from the penalty shootout heartbreak and secure a podium finish.
Egypt will be eager to channel their frustrations from the tournament into a performance that proves their quality, aiming to leave with the consolation of a medal. The match promises to be a fiercely contested affair, with both sets of players seeking redemption and pride.
The backdrop of officiating controversies adds an extra layer of intrigue to the playoff, ensuring that all eyes will be on referee Jalal Jiyed and his team as they manage this high-profile clash between two African football giants.
