₦airaland Forum

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Moroccan Jalal Jayed as the referee for Nigeria’s third-place playoff against Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

CAF announced Jayed’s appointment on Friday. The Moroccan will be assisted by his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Akarkad Mostafa.

The assistant referee 3, according to CAF, is Hassani Khalil from Tunisia while the 4th official is Peter Kamaku from Kenya.

Algeria’s Lahlou Benbraham will be the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). He will be assisted by Haythem Guirat from Tunisia and Hamza El Fariq (Morocco).

Your Match officials for (17 January,2026)

️⚽️ Egypt vs Nigeria #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/JUXSaJBclF

— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) January 16, 2026

The referee assessor is Sinko Zelli of Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria take on Egypt on Saturday, days after Morocco beat the Super Eagles 4-2 on penalties in the second semi-final of the 2025 AFCON.

The match ended goalless after 120 minutes, but the hosts saw off the three-time African champions to reach the final of the competition and take on the Teranga Lions of Senegal in Sunday’s final.

Saturday’s game is Nigeria’s ninth appearance in the third-place play-offs. The Super Eagles have won all eight bronze medal games, the highest tally in the tournament’s history.

Nigeria missed out on the 2026 World Cup following a penalty shoot out loss to DR Congo in the final of the play-offs for the competiton.

They had turned to the AFCON to make up for that. En route to the semi-finals, the Super Eagles were profilic, scoring 14 goals including a 4-0 demolition of Mozambique and a dominant 2-0 victory over the Desert Foxes of Algeria.

However, against the Atlas Lions of Morocco on Wednesday, Coach Eric Chelle’s side struggled to find their imposing form. But they were composed in defence and kept the North Africans at bay.

Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/16/afcon-caf-names-moroccan-referee-for-egypt-vs-nigeria-third-place-match

Nigerians didn't perform well, but chukwueze is like the driver now

Medicine after death. Nigeria is a jungle.

Having no Nigeria ref at the competition and no officials representing us really caused a big blow to us.How on hell will a neutral rep side with the opponents team with biased and obvious officialiating

Another mistake from CAF. Why is officiating lopsided under this current CAF president.

If West Africa and North Africa are playing, the center referee should have been from neutral regions like East Africa, Southern Africa or Central Africa.

Funnily, the Egyptians might protest over this

ayoolataiwo:
Having no Nigeria ref at the competition and no officials representing us really caused a big blow to us.How on hell will a neutral rep side with the opponents team with biased and obvious officialiating

You better give kudos to the referees in this tournament even though their officiating have been poor.

Nigeria referees will pick throwing for penalty . Even our linesmen are corrupt. Nigeria football teams hardly lose at home

Common Sense should have made CAF know that the Referee should be from Central or Southern Africa.

But then maybe CAF lacks Common Sense.

They for give am to an Egyptian ref, incompetent CAF

Another ojoro in the making, North Africans tournament .
The super Eagles should go all out to beat Egypt blue black green!

Is it about where the referee is from? ...or whether he is fair? It's the same mentality we have with choosing our leaders ... it's all about where they're from .... which region ....whether he's a thief or doesn't care a damn about the ordinary man ...or as in Tinubu 's case doesn't have a plan ...... doesn't matter. If we win .... no problem with the referee but if we lose .... the referee must be blamed.

Please Egypt destroy the super Eagles once and for all make the super Eagles in their final resting place

All the best to them, no one remembers who came second, talk more of third in a competition like this.

Anyways Nigeria is great!

GanagiBitrus:
Common Sense should have made CAF know that the Referee should be from Central or South Africa.

But then maybe CAF lacks Common Sense.

Was it not a Ghanaian ref that officiated Nigeria Vs Morocco? Is Ghana not from west Africa ?

To think that as usual no Nigerian ref or even assistant ref is in Morocco for AFCON is an indictment which we all keep ignoring.

It screams No integrity. No competence.

Originalsly:
Is it about where the referee is from? ...or whether he is fair? It's the same mentality we have with choosing our leaders ... it's all about which r going he's from .... whether he's a thief or doesn't care a damn about the ordinary man ...or as in Tinubu 's case ... doesn't have a plan ...... doesn't matter. If we win .... no problem with the referee but if we lose .... the referee must be blamed.

Keep quiet.

It matters. You cannot take sentiment from humans. Even in the world Cup, fifa consider these things.

It's such a shame that Nigeria don't have any competent referee from the country, not even one.
This is such a shame
What a corrupt/disgraced country.

The way the Ghana referee was making decisions it was as if him dey fear make Moroccans no beat am. Abi na eye service I don't just know.

Man took out a key defender for something not clearly his fault. So many wrong calls that slowed the match.

Anytime Nigeria wants to pressure the Moroccan defense, they will lie down on the ground and the Ref will blow like his life is tied to their downfall. Ghana people sha. 😒

Princedapace:
Was it not a Ghanaian ref that officiated Nigeria Vs Morocco? Is Ghana not from west Africa ?

That's equally wrong.
The referee should rightly be from a region outside the regions playing.

What's the difference between Morocco and Egypt and Tunisia?
Since we are player against Egypt, dem for kukuma give us Egyptian referee, Egypt liness man and Egyptian monitoring the VAR inside, simply because they don't want us to win

Aside Morocco all the teams we defeated were the ones CAF appointed as our referees
They even went as far as appointing North African officials in a match where an opponent is from that same side.

Make them kuku give the bronze to Egypt, since it has all been staged and planned for Morocco to win this year Afcon.

Wonder what the people in NFF is doing.
Chai I miss the glorious days of Amos Adamu and offcourse Orji uzor kalu. They know the politics of football.

[quote author=GanagiBitrus post=138164257]That's equally wrong.
The referee should rightly be from a region outside the regions playing. [/quote
What should matter is efficiency.

Play ball first then let's see how the referee would cheat. It will be very obvious

Against Morocco, Nigeria performed poorly.

Game wasn't even supposed to go to penalties if Moroccans scored their goals.

Is it a must that Nigeria participate in any tournament hosted by these Arabs?
Terrorism everywhere, even in football.
Islam is just the problem of the world

I

helinues:
Another mistake from CAF. Why is officiating lopsided under this curren CAF president.

If West Africa and North Africa are playing, the center referee should have been from neutral regions like East Africa, Southern Africa or Southern Africa.

Funnily, the Egyptians might protest over this

Your last paragraph is the koko
The North Africans hate themselves

Chai. Double wahala. Nigeria don enter am. lol

The game is inconsequential in my book.

They should cancel 3rd place match. It makes no sense. Its losers final for a reason

CAF knows what it's doing . Appointing a Moroccan to officiate the match is not a good one from them. A northerner I understand, but not a Moroccan. Anyways, Nigeria do ur best, and don't wait for refere to favor you.

Originalsly:
Is it about where the referee is from? ...or whether he is fair? It's the same mentality we have with choosing our leaders ... it's all about which r going he's from .... whether he's a thief or doesn't care a damn about the ordinary man ...or as in Tinubu 's case ... doesn't have a plan ...... doesn't matter. If we win .... no problem with the referee but if we lose .... the referee must be blamed.

Going by this your logic then it's okay to use a referee from the playing team's country...

So as Nigeria and Egypt play CAF can use a referee either from Nigeria or Egypt to officiate.


As long as he is "fair"!

tishbite41:
I
Your last paragraph is the koko
The North Africans hate themselves

If you see the way the Moroccans were that Nigeria defeated both Tunisia and Algeria heh. When it's comes to football, north African rivalry is really interesting.

Imagine a north African referee will be officiating the final. Sudan I think.

This CAF president is just so corrupt

helinues:
Another mistake from CAF. Why is officiating lopsided under this curren CAF president.

If West Africa and North Africa are playing, the center referee should have been from neutral regions like East Africa, Southern Africa or Southern Africa.

Funnily, the Egyptians might protest over this

The best refs are from Egypt Morocco Tunisia, Algeria , South Africa, Ghana ....but una no green any of them , cos una think say dem no like Nigerians ... its always Nigerians that are fighting all countries in Africa ... Nigerian refs are criminals that will accept bribes easily or will play bet9ja to because rich quickly... go and check he odds in Nigerian league, u will not see more than 10 options cos if they put all.those penalty and red card...Naira refs go cash out due to Nigerians shameless act of love of money