Seven African Referees Named for 2026 World Cup as FIFA Sidelines High-Profile Stars

​FIFA has officially unveiled the list of African match officials for the 2026 World Cup, but the selection has been overshadowed by the shock exclusion of several of the continent’s most seasoned whistles.

​Seven central referees from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have been chosen to officiate the expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. While the selection marks a career pinnacle for the chosen few, the absence of elite names has sparked intense debate regarding FIFA’s internal disciplinary and performance standards.

​The Chosen Seven

​Leading the African contingent is Algeria’s Mustapha Ghorbal, a veteran of high-stakes continental finals known for his unflappable authority. Joining him are Amin Mohamed (Egypt), Pierre Atcho (Gabon), Jalal Jayed (Morocco), Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Tom Abongile (South Africa), and Omar Artan (Somalia).

​These officials survived a rigorous three-year monitoring process led by FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina. “The selected match officials represent the very best in the world,” Collina noted, emphasizing that their consistency in domestic and FIFA competitions was the deciding factor.

ADVERTISEMENT

​The Shock Omissions

​The headlines, however, are dominated by those who will be watching from home. Most notably, Jean-Jacques Ndala of the DR Congo—who just months ago officiated the 2025 AFCON final—was left off the roster. Ndala’s omission is widely viewed as a punitive response to the chaotic conclusion of that final, which saw Senegal players stage a brief walk-off and the title eventually stripped by CAF following a successful appeal by Morocco.

​Other prominent absentees include:

• ​Daniel Laryea (Ghana): Despite handling the high-profile Nigeria vs. Morocco semi-final at the recent AFCON, his performance was deemed insufficient for the world stage.
• ​Issa Sy (Senegal): A regular in CAF Champions League fixtures, Sy’s exclusion further thins the ranks of West African representation.

• ​Nigeria’s Referees: For another consecutive cycle, no Nigerian central referee was selected, a move being described by stakeholders as a “wake-up call” for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

​Expanded Field, Shrinking Seats

​While the 2026 World Cup will feature a record 104 matches, the African refereeing pool remains highly competitive. Alongside the seven central referees, 11 assistants and two VAR officials from Africa will join “FIFA Team One,” the elite group of 170 officials tasked with managing the largest tournament in football history.