Somali Official Removed from Nigeria vs Algeria Clash Hours Before Kick-Off – Sponsorship Breach Cited.

Omar Artan

In a surprising last-minute twist ahead of one of AFCON 2025’s biggest games, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has removed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from officiating the Nigeria vs Algeria quarter-final on January 10, 2026. Artan, freshly crowned CAF Best Male Referee of the Year 2025 at the awards ceremony in Rabat, Morocco, was initially appointed for the blockbuster tie at the Stade de Marrakech.

The decision stems from a breach of CAF’s strict commercial regulations: Artan was spotted wearing football boots (cleats) from a brand not approved by the tournament’s official sponsors during an earlier match in the competition. Despite his strong performances so far and no issues with his on-field decisions, CAF enforced the rule to protect its sponsorship agreements.

Artan’s rise has been remarkable – he became the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations and even handled a continental final. His 2025 CAF award highlighted his excellence, making this removal all the more dramatic.

With Artan sidelined, CAF swiftly appointed Senegalese referee Issa Sy to take charge of the Nigeria-Algeria encounter. This isn’t the only officiating shake-up at the quarter-finals – similar changes occurred for Morocco vs Cameroon amid federation requests.

The incident has sparked debate about CAF’s strict enforcement of sponsorship rules, especially for a top official like Artan. While disappointing for the Somali ref, it underscores the commercial side of modern football tournaments.

With the Super Eagles and Algeria both unbeaten so far, all eyes now turn to the pitch – and the new ref – for what promises to be an epic battle.