Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Friday, 09 January 2026, 14:55 / Updated Friday, 09 January 2026 14:56
A controversy has arisen around the Africa Cup of Nations. A day before the quarter-final between Cameroon and Morocco, the referee of the match was changed. Although an Egyptian referee was initially appointed, CAF (Confederation of African Football) decided to replace him with one from Mauritania. This attracted attention considering that Morocco is the host country.
The first matches of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals take place tonight. The match between Mali and Senegal starts at 18:00, while the game between Cameroon and Morocco starts at 21:00.
Referees changed before home match
A decision taken by the Confederation of African Football surprised African football, just a day before the quarter-finals between Cameroon and Morocco. The original referee of this duel, Amin Mohamed Omar, was replaced by one from Mauritania, Dahane Beida.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) complained about CAF's delay in appointing a referee for the match. The initial choice, Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Omar and Algerian VAR official Mustapha Ghorbal, reportedly caused irritation in the Moroccan side, according to lequipe.fr.
A conflict reportedly ensued between Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF, and Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation, and CAF eventually decided to change the referee brigade. This decision has caused a lot of negative reactions from African football, considering that the host country is involved in the middle of the situation.
Cameron – Morocco is played today, from 21:00, in Rabat. The match is not broadcast on TV in Romania.
Dahane Beida, the referee who will officiate the quarter between Cameroon and Morocco / photo: X @CAF_Media
It is not a safe decision
The Confederation of African Football has also reportedly withdrawn Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from officiating the match between Algeria and Nigeria just a day before the match was to be played, according to the aforementioned source.
This decision would have been taken after it was found that the referee had worn, in a previous match, boots belonging to a brand that is not approved by the official sponsors of the competition. This decision was justified by the violation of CAF's contractual rules with its commercial partners. This decision was all the more surprising as this referee had recently been named Referee of the Year by CAF.
Algeria v Nigeria is played tomorrow, January 10, from 18:00 in Marrakech. The match is not broadcast on TV in Romania.
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the referee who will no longer officiate the match between Algeria and Nigeria / photo: Facebook Football Focus
