The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the match officials who will oversee the semi-final fixtures of this season’s CAF Champions League, as the competition approaches a decisive stage.
The governing body confirmed appointments for both ties, which include an all-Moroccan encounter and a high-profile clash between clubs from North and Southern Africa.
In one of the semi-finals, Moroccan sides RS Berkane and AS FAR will face each other in a two-legged contest. The first leg, scheduled to take place in Rabat on 11 April at 19:00 GMT, will be officiated by Mauritanian referee Beida Dahane. The return fixture, set for 18 April in Berkane at the same time, will be handled by Gabonese official Pierre Atcho.
The second semi-final will see Espérance Sportive de Tunis take on South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The opening leg will be played on 12 April in Radès, kicking off at 19:00 GMT, with Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbel in charge of proceedings. The decisive return leg will follow on 18 April in Pretoria at 13:00 GMT, where Somali referee Omar Artan will take charge.
These appointments come as CAF finalises preparations for what are expected to be closely contested fixtures, with all four teams aiming to secure a place in the final of Africa’s premier club competition.
The schedule released by CAF outlines the sequence of matches and officiating teams. For the tie between Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns, the first leg in Tunisia will be refereed by Mustapha Ghorbel, while the second leg in South Africa will be overseen by Omar Artan.
Meanwhile, in the Moroccan derby between AS FAR and RS Berkane, Beida Dahane will officiate the first leg in Rabat, with Pierre Atcho taking charge of the return encounter in Berkane.
The announcement provides clarity for teams and supporters alike as anticipation builds ahead of the semi-final matches. With fixtures spread across mid-April, clubs will now turn their attention to final preparations, knowing the officials who will be responsible for enforcing the laws of the game during these crucial encounters.
CAF’s confirmation of referees is a key step in the organisation of the tournament’s latter stages, ensuring that experienced officials are in place for matches that will determine the finalists.
