The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a last-minute adjustment to the officiating team for Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final clash against Algeria, with Senegalese referee Issa Sy now set to take charge of the encounter.
CAF had earlier appointed Somali official Omar Artan for the high-profile fixture but later withdrew him following a string of officiating controversies at the ongoing tournament. The decision is believed to be part of efforts to reduce tension ahead of the crucial tie, which will determine one of the semi-finalists at the 2025 AFCON.
Issa Sy is familiar with the competition, having previously worked as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the group-stage match between Morocco and Tanzania.
Nigeria secured their spot in the last eight in emphatic fashion, dismantling Mozambique 4–0 in the round of 16. Algeria, on the other hand, had to dig deep before edging past DR Congo 1–0 after extra time in a tightly fought contest.
As excitement builds ahead of today’s showdown, Burkina Faso’s technical director, Vincenzo Alberto Annese, has tipped the Super Eagles as strong contenders for the title, singling out Victor Osimhen as the standout forward at the tournament.
Nigeria currently possess the most lethal attack at AFCON 2025, having netted 12 goals shared among seven different players. Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have accounted for half of that total.
According to Annese, Nigeria’s attacking depth places them among the favourites alongside hosts Ivory Coast, but he believes the Super Eagles have an extra edge.
Speaking with Italian sports outlet Corriere dello Sport, Annese said:
“Nigeria have a solid attacking unit and are among the top teams alongside Ivory Coast, but they are more reliable.
“They also have Osimhen, who, in my opinion, is the best centre forward in the tournament. I watched Nigeria during the World Cup qualifiers, and whenever Osimhen is absent, the team looks completely different.”
The AFCON quarter-final between Nigeria and Algeria is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 p.m. today, January 10.