Algiers – The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) appointment of Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho for the upcoming Algeria-Sudan match has ignited a fresh wave of debate surrounding the standard of refereeing in African football.
The decision has been met with considerable apprehension, primarily due to Atcho’s controversial track record, particularly his involvement in the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. During the tournament, Atcho served in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room for Algeria’s matches against Angola and Burkina Faso, both of which were marred by contentious officiating decisions.
Following the Burkina Faso game, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) lodged a formal complaint with CAF, protesting the oversight of critical incidents that allegedly denied Algeria two clear penalties. The FAF also questioned the decision to assign Atcho to officiate two consecutive Algerian matches.
The FAF’s concerns extend beyond the AFCON incident. The federation previously contacted FIFA regarding Atcho’s initial appointment to oversee Algeria’s World Cup 2026 qualifier against Guinea. FIFA ultimately responded by withdrawing Atcho and replacing him.
Atcho’s name is also associated with a separate refereeing controversy during the previous AFCON. He was linked to the contentious Round of 16 match between host nation Ivory Coast and Senegal, which resulted in his subsequent removal from further officiating duties in the tournament.
Given this backdrop, the appointment of Atcho for the Algeria-Sudan fixture has triggered renewed anxiety among Algerian football fans. The situation places significant pressure on CAF to ensure impartiality and integrity in the refereeing of this highly anticipated match, which is expected to draw substantial attention from both fans and the media. DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation.
