The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made a dramatic late change to the officiating team for one of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025's most anticipated matches. Somalia's referee Omar Artan has been withdrawn from taking charge of the quarterfinal clash between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Algeria, scheduled for Saturday, January 10, in Marrakech.
Why Was the Referee Removed?
The decision, confirmed just days before the high-stakes knockout match, stems from a breach of the tournament's strict commercial and sponsorship regulations. According to reports, CAF officials discovered that Artan had worn football boots from a brand that is not an official partner of the continental football body.
This violation was deemed a serious contractual issue, leading to his removal. It is important to note that Artan's technical competence or decisions in previous matches were not in question. The 2025 AFCON has specific rules requiring all match officials to use equipment exclusively from CAF's approved sponsors, and any deviation is treated as a breach.
Artan had previously officiated the group stage match between Gabon and defending champions Ivory Coast without incident. His sudden withdrawal so close to a major fixture has raised eyebrows, as referees are typically confirmed well in advance to ensure proper preparation and team briefings.
Replacement and Wider Refereeing Tensions
While CAF has not issued a formal public statement, behind-the-scenes reports indicate that Senegalese referee Issa Sy is now expected to take charge of the Nigeria vs Algeria quarterfinal. This late switch adds to the sense of instability surrounding the administration of the tournament's latter stages.
This incident is not isolated. AFCON 2025 has been marked by internal disagreements within CAF's referees committee over officiating standards and key decisions. The tension became public when Morocco's football federation formally requested a change of officials for their quarterfinal against Cameroon, a request CAF granted by replacing Egypt's Amin Omar with Mauritanian official Dehane Beida.
So far, only the Mali vs Senegal quarterfinal has proceeded without any pre-match officiating controversy, with South Africa's Tom Abongile confirmed as the referee.
Nigeria vs Algeria: A Clash of Titans Amid Distraction
For the Super Eagles and the Desert Foxes of Algeria, the referee saga is an unwelcome distraction from the monumental football task at hand. Both teams enter the match with perfect records in the tournament, setting up a classic encounter.
Algeria, under coach Vladimir Petkovic, have been defensively formidable, conceding only one goal in four matches. Their round of 16 victory over DR Congo was a tense affair, settled by Adil Boulbina's strike in the 119th minute. Captain Riyad Mahrez has been vocal about his team's strength and organization.
On the other side, Nigeria's Super Eagles boast a fearsome attack that has scored 12 goals, including a 4-0 demolition of Mozambique. The duo of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman has overwhelmed opponents throughout the competition. However, recent history favors Algeria, who have won the last three encounters between the two nations.
In a related development, CAF has also reportedly alerted the Nigerian camp that three players are at risk of suspension for the next round should they receive a yellow card. Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi picked up Nigeria's first booking of the knockout stages in their match against Mozambique.
