CHAN Qualifiers: CAF appoints Moroccan officials for Super Eagles clash with Black Galaxies

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has selected Moroccan official Hamza El Fariq as referee for the return leg match of the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) Qualifiers between Nigeria and Ghana in Uyo.

His compatriots Abdessamad Abertoune, Zakaria Bouchtaoui and Hicham Temsamani to serve as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

Prince Kai Saquee from Sierra Leone will be the commissioner while Miboti Moise from the Democratic Republic of Congo will be in the role of referee assessor.

Both illustrious regional rivals battled to a scoreless stalemate in Accra on Sunday and the final qualifying fixture is delicately poised ahead of the decider at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.

Nigeria defended stoutly at the Accra Sports Stadium while relying on counter-attacks, but will have to launch onslaughts from the blast of the referee’s whistle in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.

Ghana have dominated their African Nations Championship clashes, with the Eagles winning only one of six previous clashes. Three have resulted in scoreless draws.

Ghana won 3-2 in Accra in 2008 and also 2-0 in Accra in 2022, and to boot, have claimed victory in even in the ones that ended in ties.

The 0-0 draw in Calabar in 2008 meant Ghana sailed through to the inaugural CHAN finals in Cote d’Ivoire on the strength of their 3-2 win in Accra two weeks earlier.

The semi-final clash between the West African rivals in the third installment of the final tournament in South Africa in 2014 ended 0-0; the Galaxies prevailed 4-1 after a penalty shootout.