Top Referee Withdraws From AFCON 2025

Top Referee Withdraws From AFCON 2025

Sampson Adedeji

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been dealt a major setback ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following the withdrawal of one of the continent’s top referees, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

With just one week to the kickoff of the tournament in Morocco, Algerian referee Youcef Gamouh has been forced to pull out of the competition despite being named among the central referees selected to officiate at the championship.

The 38-year-old official is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best-ranked referees and was expected to play a key role during the tournament.

His profile was further enhanced recently after FIFA appointed him to officiate at the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Chile between September and October, a move that underlined his growing reputation on the global stage.

Gamouh’s inclusion at the World Cup had boosted expectations that he would be one of the most prominent referees at the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, those hopes have now been dashed. According to an official statement released by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), the referee is unavailable for medical reasons.

While no specific details were disclosed, the federation confirmed his withdrawal and wished him a speedy recovery.

His absence represents a notable loss for CAF as preparations continue for Africa’s biggest football showpiece.