At the time when referees in Ghana continue to come under scrutiny for all the wrong reasons, the Confederation of African Football has shown confidence in two Ghanaian officials for the next year’s Nations Cup in Mali.
Alex Quartey, four times Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) referee of the year and Justice Yeboah were named in CAF’s list of referees and assistant referees for the 23rd Nations Cup.
Not more that one referee or assistant referee is selected from the same country. The most controversial of the picks were two who were banned for a year earlier in season.
Mourad Daami of Tunisia and Falla Ndoye of Senegal had their suspensions lifted in time to take part, after appeals form their home federations.
Ndoye had been tipped to be one of Africa’s referees at next year’s World Cup Finals but was sanctioned after Angola protested about what they saw as a biased performance in a Nations Cup qualifier they lost 1-0 at Burkina Faso in January.
Angola also had a legitimate-looking goal disallowed, and that proved crucial to their failure to reach the Finals.
Daami took his punishment after showing dismally at least year’s Champions League final second leg in Accra, which he attended as a guest of Esperance.
He tried to persuade the match officials to abandon the game after Hearts of Oak fans caused disturbances, which spilled on to the pitch.
The list of officials for Mali includes two referees from Europe Spain’s Arturo Dauden Ibanez and Italian Domenico Messian – and two assistant referees, as well as the 14 African referees.
Referees: Alex Quartey (GHA), Gamal El Ghandour (EGY), Codjia Coffi (BEN), Abdelhakim Shelmani (LBY), Felix Tangawarima (ZIM), Ndoye Falla (SEN), Lim Kee Chong (MRI), Mourad Daami (TUN), Evehe Divine (CMR), Mohemed Guezzaz (MOR), Petros Mathabela (RSA), Chukwujekwu Chukwudi (NGR), Coman Coulibaly (MLI), Tessema Hailemalak (ETH), Arturo Dauden Ibanez (SPA), Domenico Messina (ITA)
Ass. Referees: Justice Yeboah (GHA), Dramane Dante (MLI), Taoufik Adjengui (TUN), Brighton Mudzamiri (ZIM), Farag Wagih (EGY), Ali Tomusange (UGA), Gamal El Hawari (LBY), Abel Mejid Jeddaoui (MOR), Pequenino Domingos (MOZ), Endeng Zogo (CMR), Salah El Berry (EGY), Pedro Simao (ANG), Osman Hamid (SUD), Lazarus Matela (RSA), Vincent Texier (FRA), Paulo Jorge Ribeiro (POR).
