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2026 World Cup Qualifier: CAF appoints Moroccan officials for Rwanda, Nigeria clash

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2026 World Cup Qualifier: CAF appoints Moroccan officials for Rwanda, Nigeria clash

By Wale Mustapha

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Moroccan referee Jayed Jalal to officiate the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Rwanda’s Amavubi and Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

The match, set for Friday, March 21, will take place at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, marking a crucial encounter in the race for World Cup qualification.

Jalal, a highly regarded official in North African football, will be assisted by his compatriots Mostapha Akarkad and Hamza Nassiri, who will serve as the first and second assistant referees, respectively.

The 37-year-old referee has a solid track record, having previously officiated high-profile matches, including the Super Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Ghana in a friendly on March 22, 2024. Jalal is well-known for his involvement in both CAF club competitions and international fixtures.

As the match approaches, Rwanda leads Group C with seven points from four games, while Nigeria occupies fifth place with just three points from four matches.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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