The stage is set for the highly anticipated semi-final clash between Nigeria and South Africa at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. The two teams have a long history of rivalry and ambition, and will be eager to secure a spot in the final of the continent’s biggest football tournament.
But who will be the man in charge of the whistle for this crucial encounter? The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Omar will officiate the match, which will kick off at 6 pm Nigeria time on Wednesday at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.
Omar is a seasoned and respected referee, who has been involved in several high-profile matches in Africa and beyond. He was part of the officiating team for the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar, where he handled the third-place match between Monterrey and Al-Hilal. He also officiated the 2020 CAF Champions League final between Al-Ahly and Zamalek, which was the first ever all-Egyptian final in the competition’s history.
Omar will be assisted by his compatriots Mahmoud Kamel Abouelregal and Ahmed Hossam Ibrahim, who will serve as the assistant referees. The fourth official will be Sudanese Mahmood Ali Ismail, while the reserve assistant referee will be Libyan Attia Essa Amsaaed. The match commissioner will be Yacoub Ali Elmi from Djibouti, and the referee assessor will be Aboubacar Doumbouya from Guinea.
This will be the second time that Omar will referee a match involving Nigeria at the AFCON. He was the man in the middle for the Super Eagles’ 1-0 win over Burundi in the group stage of the 2019 edition in Egypt. He also officiated a friendly match between Nigeria and Senegal in 2017, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Nigeria and South Africa have met 14 times at the senior level, with the Super Eagles winning seven, drawing five, and losing two. Their most recent encounter was at the quarter-final stage of the 2019 AFCON, where Nigeria edged South Africa 2-1 with goals from Samuel Chukwueze and William Ekong. Both players are expected to feature in Wednesday’s match, along with other stars like Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Percy Tau, Thembinkosi Lorch, and Bongani Zungu.
The winner of the Nigeria-South Africa semi-final will face the winner of the other semi-final between hosts Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which will be played on Thursday at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan. The final will take place on Sunday at the same venue.
