🔴 Club World Cup 2025: five African referees selected (Official)

African officiating will be in the spotlight at the first expanded edition of the Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025.

FIFA officially announced this Monday, April 14, the list of selected officials, and five central African referees have been chosen to participate in this prestigious competition.

The FIFA statement:

Leading the pack, Algerian Mustapha Ghorbal, a veteran of major events, will represent the continent alongside his compatriots Mokrane Gourari and Abbes Akram Zerhouni as assistants. Ghorbal notably officiated the recent first leg of the CAF Champions League final between Espérance de Tunis and Al Ahly, cementing his status as an elite referee.

DR Congo and Senegal on the scene

Congolese Jean-Jacques Ndala, a well-known figure in African football, will experience his first FIFA competition, while Senegalese Issa Sy continues his impressive rise after standout performances in the AFCON, U20 World Cup, and interclub competitions.

Also present: Mauritanian Dahane Beida, who officiated the last AFCON final, and Libyan Mutaz Ibrahimi. Morocco will not have a central referee, but will be represented by Hamza El Fareq in the video assistant referee (VAR) team.

Below is the list of the five selected referees:

1. Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
2. Jean-Jacques Ndala (DR Congo)
3. Issa Sy (Senegal)
4. Mutaz Ibrahimi (Libya)
5. Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

It is worth noting that two major innovations will be tested this year: referee-worn cameras and a rule to limit goalkeepers' time-wasting.

Amine Jomni |

Editorfr

African football writer and sports journalist covering football news, stories and insights while sharing his expertise with fans across the continent.