The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from officiating the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final clash between Nigeria and Algeria, scheduled for Saturday in Morocco.
CAF made the decision after it emerged that the official had worn boots from a brand not approved by the tournament’s official sponsors during an earlier match at the competition.
According to reports, the breach of sponsorship regulations left CAF with little choice but to act, leading to Artan’s removal from one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the tournament.
Tournament rules strictly require match officials to adhere to approved commercial guidelines, particularly at the latter stages of the competition.
The development comes as a surprise, given Artan’s standing in African football. He was recently named Referee of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards held in Rabat, recognition that followed a series of high-profile performances across the continent.
Known for his composed and authoritative handling of matches, his sudden exit has drawn attention across the AFCON camp.
CAF is now expected to announce a replacement referee ahead of the last-eight encounter, which will take place at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Ouahat Sidi Brahim, Morocco.
The stadium is set to host a packed crowd as two continental heavyweights battle for a place in the semi-finals at 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 10.
The winner will progress to face either Cameroon or host nation Morocco in the semi-finals of the AFCON 2025.
