Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate Nigeria vs Algeria AFCON quarter-final
Omar Artan has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football to referee the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between Nigeria and Algeria at the Stade de Marrakech. The highly regarded Somali official has previously overseen matches at major tournaments, including the 2023 AFCON. Nigeria advanced to the last eight after a dominant win over Mozambique, while Algeria secured their spot with a dramatic extra-time victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo. The upcoming clash is a rematch of the 2019 AFCON semi-final, which Algeria won.
Match highlights
- Omar Artan will officiate the quarter-final match between Nigeria and Algeria at the Stade de Marrakech.
- The Somali referee is among the African officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Nigeria reached the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over Mozambique, featuring two goals from Victor Osimhen and three assists by Ademola Lookman.
- Algeria defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in extra time, with substitute Adil Boulbina scoring in the 118th minute.
- The match is a repeat of the 2019 AFCON semi-final, previously won by Algeria with a late free kick from Riyad Mahrez.
