Senegalese referee Issa Sy has been handed the task of officiating Friday’s AFCON quarter-final encounter between Nigeria and Angola at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, www.aclsports.com reports.
39-year-old Sy will be supported by compatriots Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively, wile Mauritanian official Abdel Aziz Bouh will serve as the fourth official.
In addition to that cast, Modibo Samake from Mali will stand as reserve assistant referee, while Ahmad Nazeer Hossen Bowud from Mauritius and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia will act as the commissioner and referee assessor respectively.
It is the second time in recent memory that Issa Sy will be handling a Super Eagles game, the last being Nigeria’s 2-1 win over the Republic of Benin in a 2021 AFCON qualifying game decided at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in November 2019. Reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen scored one of Nigeria’s goals on the day.
It will be recalled that in the last round, Moroccan referee Redouane Jiyed took charge of the clash with Cameroon which the Super Eagles won comfortably.
The officiating at this AFCON has been top-notch and well celebrated across the continent. With the competition in its important stages, the standard is expected to get better.
Friday’s match, which will commence at 5pm Cote d’Ivoire time (6pm Nigeria time), is the first time the Super Eagles and the Angolans will be meeting at the AFCON.
Meanwhile, injured Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali could feature in Friday’s encounter, though Coach Jose Peseiro has stated that he fails the late fitness test, Francis Uzoho will be deployed in goal.
The winner of Friday’s encounter will face the winner of the clash between Cape Verde and South Africa in one of the semi final matches, at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.
