The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially unveiled the provisional list of African match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The roster features a mix of veteran experience and rising stars who will represent Africa across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Referees: Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria), Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo), Amin Omar (Egypt), and Pierre Ghislain Atcho (Gabon).
VAR Officials: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria), Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt), and Letticia Viana (Eswatini).
CAF noted that selections followed a “rigorous assessment” of consistency and performance in high-stakes continental and international fixtures.
The headlines, however, have been dominated by the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan. Despite his reputation as one of the continent’s most elite and reliable officials, Artan was left off the final list.
His absence has stunned analysts and fans alike, becoming a major talking point as the selected crew begins final preparations for the world’s biggest football stage.
