The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has finalised the officiating teams for the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, assigning referees from across the continent to oversee two highly anticipated ties involving clubs from Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco.
According to information obtained from CAF’s referees committee, appointments have been confirmed for both the clash between Zamalek and CR Belouizdad, as well as the Maghreb derby featuring Olympique Safi and USM Alger.
South African Team to Oversee Zamalek vs Belouizdad First Leg
The first leg of the semi-final between Egypt’s Zamalek and Algeria’s CR Belouizdad will take place at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Friday, 10 April, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT.
CAF has appointed South African referee Tom Abu-Ngil to take charge of the encounter. He will be supported by compatriot Siola Zakhela as first assistant referee and Lesotho’s Souru Phatson as second assistant. The fourth official role has been assigned to Ahmad Imtiaz Heeralall from Mauritius.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties will be handled by South Africa’s Johanna Makalima, assisted by Zambia’s Diana Chikochi.
The return leg is scheduled for Cairo International Stadium on Friday, 17 April at 16:00 GMT. Somali referee Omar Qartan will officiate that match, with Djibouti’s Ahmed Abdel Razek Liban and Kenya’s Stephen Onyango serving as assistants. Ivory Coast’s Clement Franklin will act as fourth official.
For the second leg, Egyptian referee Mahmoud Ashour has been appointed to oversee VAR operations, assisted by Sudanese official Mohamed Abdullah Ibrahim.
Egyptian Officials Lead Maghreb Derby First Leg
In the other semi-final, CAF has confirmed that the first leg of the Maghreb derby between Morocco’s Olympique Safi and Algeria’s USM Alger will be played on Saturday, 11 April at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers, kicking off at 16:00 GMT.
An Egyptian refereeing team led by Amin Omar will take charge of the fixture. He will be assisted by Mahmoud Abu Al-Rijal and Ahmed Hossam Taha, while Mohamed Maarouf has been designated as the fourth official.
VAR responsibilities for the match will again fall to Mahmoud Ashour, with Hossam Azab Haggag serving as assistant VAR.
Return Leg Assignments Finalised
The return leg of the Maghreb derby is set for Sunday, 19 April at Al Massira Stadium in Morocco, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT.
Rwandan referee Samuel Uykanda has been selected to officiate the match, supported by Kenya’s Gilbert Cheruiyot and Angola’s Oliver Sanchez as assistant referees. Chadian official Mohamed Ali Al-Hajj will serve as fourth official.
For VAR, CAF has appointed Senegalese referee Issa Sy, assisted by Gabriel Camara.
Semi-Finalists Confirmed After Quarter-Final Battles
The four teams competing at this stage—Zamalek, CR Belouizdad, USM Alger, and Olympique Safi—secured their places in the semi-finals following victories in the previous round.
Zamalek progressed at the expense of Egyptian side Al Masry, while CR Belouizdad advanced by overcoming Congolese club Otoho. USM Alger eliminated Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca, and Olympique Safi booked their place after defeating Congolese side Mnyama.
Focus on Fair Play and Consistency
With fixtures spanning multiple countries and involving teams with strong regional rivalries, CAF’s selection of referees reflects an effort to ensure neutrality and consistency at a decisive stage of the competition.
As the Confederation Cup approaches its conclusion, attention will not only be on the players but also on the match officials tasked with maintaining discipline and upholding the integrity of the tournament.
