Nigeria Missing as CAF Confirms Match Officials for 2025 AFCON

Nigeria will have no match officials at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after CAF released its final list of 73 referees for the tournament in Morocco. The approved group includes 28 referees, 31 assistant referees and 14 VAR officials drawn from countries such as Benin, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Senegal. Nigeria, a three-time African champion, is the only former AFCON-winning West African nation without a representative.

The development has deepened concerns about Nigeria’s declining influence in African officiating, even as the country remains one of the continent’s top performers on the pitch. CAF said the appointments reflect its commitment to “refereeing excellence” and a strategy built on consistency, technical improvement and tournament integrity.

All selected officials will arrive in Morocco on 15 December for a training camp ahead of the competition, scheduled for 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.