The Confederation of African Football has selected 73 referees for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, but none are from Nigeria. The officials, drawn from across the continent, will undergo preparatory training before the tournament begins in December. This announcement comes amid Nigeria's focus on reclaiming success in the competition after missing the 2026 World Cup.
On November 27, 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revealed its list of match officials for the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. The selection includes 28 main referees, 31 assistant referees, and 14 video assistant referees, totaling 73 experienced professionals from various African regions. Notably absent from the roster are any Nigerian officials, marking a gap in representation for the West African nation.
The tournament is scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco. All appointed referees are set to arrive in the host country on December 15, 2025, for an intensive preparatory course organized by CAF's referees department. This program will feature physical, technical, and theoretical assessments to optimize performance during the event.
CAF emphasized the rigor of the process in its statement: “This careful selection of highly experienced referees confirms CAF’s ongoing commitment to refereeing excellence, maintaining the integrity of competitions, and promoting technical standards in African football.”
The announcement arrives as Nigeria's Super Eagles prepare for the continental showpiece. Recently, President Bola Tinubu urged the team to "recover the lost glory" by winning the AFCON, following their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Eagles were defeated by the Democratic Republic of Congo in a penalty shootout (4-3) after a 1-1 draw in extra time during the inter-confederation playoff in Morocco. Tinubu, via his Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, commended the players' efforts and called for stakeholders to address shortcomings.
Nigeria, three-time AFCON champions, is placed in Group C alongside Tanzania's Taifa Stars, Uganda's Cranes, and Tunisia's Carthage Eagles. The absence of Nigerian referees underscores ongoing challenges in the country's football administration amid hopes for a strong tournament showing.