Egyptian referee, Amin Omar has been picked by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate the AFCON 2023 semi-final match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
The match is scheduled for the Peace Stadium in Bouaké.
The Herald brings five facts about the referee for this crunch game:
- Experienced Referee: Despite being only 39 years old, Omar has been an international referee since 2017. He officiated matches in the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup and currently holds top-flight refereeing status in the Egyptian Premier League.
- AFCON 2023 Veteran: This isn’t his first appearance at AFCON 2023. He was chosen to referee the opening match between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, as well as the goalless draw between DR Congo and Tanzania.
- Big Match Specialist: CAF entrusted Omar with high-profile matches throughout the tournament, highlighting his confidence in his abilities. The Nigeria vs South Africa clash is another testament to his reputation for handling important games.
- Leading an Egyptian Crew: He won’t be alone on the field. Two fellow Egyptians, Mahmoud Abouelregal and Ahmed Ibrahim, will be assistant referees, while Sudanese Mahmood Ismail serves as the fourth official. This familiarity could contribute to smooth communication and decision-making.
- Neutral Stance: Despite his Egyptian nationality, Omar maintains professionalism and strives for fair officiating. Both Nigeria and South Africa can expect a neutral approach to the game, as he has demonstrated in previous matches.
Bonus Fact: This is only the second time Nigeria and South Africa have met in an AFCON semi-final. The previous encounter, in 2000, was won by Nigeria 2-0.