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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jiyed to officiate the high-profile Nigeria vs Egypt third-place playoff at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a decision that has drawn attention amid heightened scrutiny of officiating at the tournament.
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The match, scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026, will be played at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, with both Nigeria and Egypt seeking to end their AFCON 2025 campaigns on a positive note after falling short in the semi-finals.
CAF confirmed Jiyed’s appointment as part of its official referee designations for the final weekend of the tournament. Jalal Jiyed is one of North Africa’s most experienced referees, having officiated numerous CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup and international fixtures.
For the Nigeria–Egypt encounter, he will be supported by an experienced officiating team that includes Zakaria Brinsi and Mostafa Akarkad of Morocco as assistant referees, while Peter Waweru Kamaku of Kenya will serve as the fourth official.
The match will also feature full Video Assistant Referee (VAR) support, led by Algerian official Lahlu Benbraham, assisted by Haythem Guirat and Hamza El Fariq, ensuring technological oversight for key decisions.
The appointment comes at a time when refereeing has been a major talking point throughout AFCON 2025. Several matches, particularly in the knockout rounds, have sparked debate among fans and pundits, with decisions closely analysed on social media and across the African football community.
CAF has consistently defended its referee selection process, stressing that appointments are based on experience, performance and neutrality. Nigeria and Egypt, two of Africa’s most decorated football nations, enter the playoff with pride and ranking points at stake.
Egypt, seven-time AFCON champions, were eliminated in the semi-finals after a narrow defeat, while Nigeria, three-time winners, also fell short of reaching the final despite an impressive tournament run.
The third-place match offers both teams an opportunity to secure a podium finish and valuable momentum ahead of future international competitions.
Earlier in the tournament, CAF’s referee appointments also attracted attention during Nigeria’s semi-final clash against hosts Morocco, underlining the pressure officials face when handling matches involving heavyweight nations and host teams.
With AFCON 2025 drawing to a close, officiating decisions remain under the spotlight, particularly in fixtures that carry continental prestige. CAF officials have reiterated calls for respect toward match officials and urged fans and stakeholders to allow referees to perform their duties without intimidation.
As the tournament concludes with the third-place playoff and final, the Nigeria–Egypt match will be an exciting encounter.
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