AFCON 2025: CAF Appoints Somali Referee for Nigeria vs Algeria Quarter-Final Clash
- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a Somali referee for the Super Eagles’ next match
- Nigeria and the Desert Foxes of Algeria will clash in the quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
- Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been a FIFA-accredited referee since 2018 and officiated at AFCON 2023 in Cote d'Ivoire
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed the referee to officiate the Super Eagles of Nigeria against the Desert Foxes of Algeria.
Nigeria and Algeria will clash in the quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Mozambique and DR Congo in the Round of 16.
Source: Getty Images
Nigeria defeated Mozambique 4-0 thanks to a Victor Osimhen brace and goals from Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams, while Algeria needed a late Adil Boulbina strike to eliminate DR Congo.
The Nigerian football fans would have hoped to play DR Congo, who eliminated them from the World Cup play-offs, but in Algeria, they have another worthy opponent.
CAF appoints referee for Nigeria vs Algeria
According to Foot Africa, CAF has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan for the huge AFCON 2025 quarter-final encounter between Nigeria and Algeria.
Artan is one of the best referees on the continent and was selected for the recently concluded FIFA U20 World Cup, which Morocco won.
He managed Algeria’s AFCON 2023 match against Mauritania, becoming the first Somali referee to officiate at Africa's premier tournament.
He also officiated high-profile CAF Champions League matches, including Pyramids vs Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo and was named the best African referee in 2025.
NFF’s statement on Nigeria vs Algeria
The NFF describes the match between the Super Eagles and the Desert Foxes as the pick of the round ahead of the match on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
The two teams have shared a 55-year rivalry since their first meeting at the All-Africa Games in 1971, and have met 23 times in all competitions.
Algeria and Nigeria have clashed nine times at the Africa Cup of Nations. The three-time champions won their first trophy in 1980 on home soil, beating Algeria.
Les Fennecs returned the favour 10 years later on home soil, defeating Nigeria to win their first trophy in 1990. Algeria again prevailed over Nigeria en route to their second title. Riyad Mahrez’s free kick eliminated the Super Eagles in the semi-final in 2019.
Source: Getty Images
Nigerians still have revenge in their minds ahead of Saturday’s match, particularly with Mahrez, who is still part of the team, featuring at his final AFCON.
One of the most memorable clashes between the two was in 1984, when they played a goalless draw in Bouake to reach the semi-final and eliminate defending champions Ghana.
Saturday’s match will be the 10th meeting at AFCON and is set to write a new chapter in one of African football’s most iconic and oldest rivalries.
NFF clarifies Lookman-Osimhen rift
Legit.ng reported that the NFF clarified the on-pitch heated exchange between Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen against Mozambique.
The Nigeria Football Federation dismissed the reports of any rancour in the aftermath as the incident had already been settled within the team.
Source: Legit.ng
