Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate Espérance Sportive de Tunis’ opening fixture against Angola’s Wiliete SC in the 2026-27 CAF Champions League group stage.
Artan will take charge of the Group A encounter on Saturday, November 28, at the Hamadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès, Tunisia, as both sides begin their campaign in Africa’s premier club competition.
CAF has also named Algerian official Ibrahim Lahlou as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the fixture.
The appointment places Artan in charge of an important early group-stage contest, with Espérance looking to make a strong start in front of their home supporters and Wiliete aiming to produce a positive result on their Champions League debut at this stage.
Artan will oversee the match proceedings on the field, while Lahlou will be responsible for reviewing key incidents and assisting the referee through the VAR system.
The appointment also highlights the involvement of officials from different parts of the continent in CAF’s elite club competitions.
For Espérance, the encounter represents the beginning of another push for continental success, while Wiliete will be looking to make their presence felt against one of Tunisia’s most established clubs.
Both teams will be keen to secure an early advantage in Group A as the race for a place in the knockout stages begins.
