The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Gabonese referee Pierre Atcho to officiate the highly anticipated semi-final match between Egypt and Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The appointment has already stirred some discussion, as Atcho was previously involved in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room during the Algerian national team’s match against Nigeria. He was part of the officiating team that has been criticised for its failure to award a penalty to Algeria, raising concerns among some fans regarding his impartiality.
Atcho will be assisted by his compatriot Marlaisia Bolas as the first assistant referee and Congolese native Dank Stephen as the second assistant referee. The fourth official for the match will be Jean-Jacques Ndala, also from Congo.
The crucial VAR duties will be overseen by Peter Kamaku from Kenya, supported by Viana Antonnella from Eswatini. The additional assistant VAR will be Alves Hien from Cameroon.
The selection of the refereeing team comes under intense scrutiny given the significance of the semi-final clash. Both Egypt and Senegal are considered strong contenders for the title, and the outcome of the match will heavily depend on fair and accurate officiating. Football fans across the continent will be watching closely to ensure that the game is decided on the pitch and not by controversial decisions from the officials. The pressure is on Atcho and his team to deliver a flawless performance and maintain the integrity of the competition.
