AFCON 2025 : CAF sidelines Somali referee Omar Artan ahead of quarter-final

Somali referee Omar Artan has been withdrawn from officiating the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between Algeria and Nigeria after breaching CAF’s commercial regulations, Africa Top Sports has learned. Artan had initially been designated to take charge of the high-profile fixture before the last-minute intervention from the Confederation of African Football.

Sources close to the referees committee say the decision followed the discovery that Artan had been wearing cleats from a brand not included in CAF’s list of approved sponsors. While the issue had no bearing on his technical performance, CAF officials reportedly viewed the matter as a clear violation of contractual obligations tied to tournament sponsorships.

The development comes at a sensitive time for CAF, with mounting scrutiny on refereeing standards and administrative consistency at the latter stages of the tournament. Artan’s sidelining has reignited debate over whether commercial compliance should override continuity in officiating appointments for decisive matches.

CAF is yet to issue a formal public statement on the matter, but a replacement official is expected to be named shortly to ensure preparations for the Algeria–Nigeria quarter-final proceed without disruption. Africa Top Sports will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they emerge.