The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the lineup of match officials selected to officiate the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) — and once again, Nigerian referees have been left out of the list.
According to the official CAF press release issued on Wednesday, a total of 58 match officials were selected, comprising 29 center referees and 29 assistant referees from various African countries.
Interestingly, Morocco and Algeria lead with two central referees each, underlining their growing influence and recognition in African football officiating.
No Spot for Nigerian Referees
This marks another major snub for Nigerian referees, who have historically faced exclusion from top-tier African tournaments. Despite Nigeria’s rich football legacy, CAF’s decision continues a worrying trend of non-inclusion in officiating at major competitions.
This development raises questions about the current state of referee development and recognition in Nigeria’s domestic football scene, particularly as CHAN focuses exclusively on players and officials active in local leagues.
About CHAN 2024
The CHAN tournament is unique in that it only features players who are active in their country’s local leagues, thereby offering a platform for grassroots and home-based talent.
This year, the championship will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, with matches scheduled from August 2 to August 30, 2025.
The trio of East African nations promises a vibrant atmosphere and improved infrastructure, aligning with CAF’s recent push to decentralize football development across the continent.
What This Means for African Football
While the exclusion of Nigerian officials is disappointing, it also shines a spotlight on the need for more robust investments in referee training and accreditation programs in Nigeria.
For countries like Morocco and Algeria, their consistent inclusion may be attributed to the strategic focus on referee development, enhanced football infrastructure, and active CAF engagement.
? Want to know how African referees get selected? Here’s a breakdown of CAF’s referee selection criteria.
Conclusion
The release of the match officials list for CHAN 2024 signals CAF’s commitment to elevating African refereeing standards — though not without controversy. For Nigeria, the continued absence of its referees could be a call to action for local football bodies to revisit and revamp the nation’s officiating pipeline.
Stay connected for more updates on African football, CAF announcements, and in-depth analysis of tournaments like CHAN and AFCON.
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