CAF’s elite match officials named among world’s best to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026™
Published:
A total of 19 match officials have been selected to represent Africa at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in the United States, Mexico and Canada, following FIFA’s official announcement of the referees for the tournament.
A list of match officials comprises seven referees, 10 assistant referees and two Video Assistant Referees (VAR). These officials form part of FIFA’s elite group of 170 match officials selected for the global showpiece set for 11 June – 19 July 2026.
The selection reflects a strong continuity between CAF’s elite competitions and the global stage, with 16 of the selected 19 match officials having been part of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
This progression underscores the critical role of CAF competitions in preparing match officials for the highest level of international football.
The presence of these highly experienced and trusted officials on the world stage is the result of CAF’s ongoing efforts and sustained investment in the development and training of match officials across the continent.
Through structured programmes and consistent exposure to top-level CAF interclub and national competitions, CAF continues to strengthen its refereeing standards and produce world-class officials.
CAF MATCH OFFICIALS SELECTED FOR THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026™:
REFEREES:
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria), Amin Mohamed (Egypt), Pierre Atcho (Gabon), Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Jalal Jayed (Morocco), Abongile Tom (South Africa), Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia)
ASSISTANT REFEREES:
Mokrane Gourari (Algeria), Jerson Emiliano dos Santos (Angola), Boris Ditsoga (Gabon), Ahmed Hossam Taha (Egypt), Elvis Noupue (Cameroon), Mahmoud Abouelregal (Egypt), Amos Abeigne Ndong (Gabon), Mostafa Akarkad (Morocco), Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco), Zakhele Siwela (South Africa).
