Afcon 2023: Mauritania referee to officiate in Cote d’Ivoire vs Nigeria final

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

FIFA referee Dahane Beida of Mauritania has been appointed centre referee in Sunday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final pitting hosts Cote D’Ivoire against neighbours Nigeria.

Beida will take charge of proceedings as central referee and the first assistant referee is Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos of Angola.

Diana Chikotesha will be the second assistant, while the fourth official will be Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi. Chikotesha has been a key member of the CAF referees’ officiating panel at the tournament where she has been on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties and on the pitch as assistant referee.

Sunday’s match will kick off at 22h00 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

The winner of the game will increase their AFCON trophy haul.

For the Super Eagles, a win on Sunday at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, Ebimpe, Abidjan, will make it the fourth AFCON title.

Should the Elephants win the match, they will equal Nigeria on three AFCON titles.

AFCON 2023 has been a tournament of surprises with a high level of competitiveness from each participating team.