CAF Source Defends Referee Amid Al Ahly’s Protests

A CAF source's weighed in on the performance of Chadian referee Hajji Mohamed who officiated the Al Ahly vs Al Hilal clash in the CAF Champions League last Tuesday.

Controversy Over Time Wasting

Al Ahly players and coaching staff voiced strong objections over what they saw as leniency from the referee particularly regarding Al Hilal players deliberately wasting time without receiving yellow cards.

CAF’s Stance

Speaking exclusively to Btolat, CAF official defended the referee, stating:

"Hajji Mohamed's one of Africa’s top referees and is strong candidate for the next FIFA World Cup"

He added:

"He's currently part of CAF’s elite refereeing program for World Cup candidates and enjoys significant trust from the CAF Referees Committee"

Al Ahly Takes 1st Leg Advantage

Despite the officiating controversy, Al Ahly secured 1 - 0 victory in the 1st leg of the CAF Champions League quarter finals.

2nd Leg in Mauritania

The return leg is set for Tuesday, 8 April with Al Hilal forced to play in Mauritania due to stadium restrictions in Sudan.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.