The 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is in the semi-final stages, and interestingly, the two matches between Senegal and Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco, will feature past winners of the African Footballer of the Year since 2017, all defending their countries.
In 2017 and 2018, Egypt’s player, Mohamed Salah, was the winner of the African Ballon d’Or, as the African Footballer of the Year award is fondly called.
Senegalese footballer Sadio Mane won the African Footballer of the Year award in 2019. He won it again in 2022 after the suspension of the award and football matches due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Nigerian player Victor Osimhen won the coveted African Footballer of the Year trophy in 2023, while his compatriot, Ademola Lookman, won it in 2024.
View this post on Instagram
The latest winner of the African Footballer of the Year before the AFCON 2025 was Achraf Hakimi from Morocco.
In the evening of Wednesday, January 14, Nigeria will play against the host nation, Morocco, where Hakimi will play against Osimhen and Lookman on the football pitch.
Officiating referees for AFCON 2025 semi-finals
View this post on Instagram
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea will take charge of the highly anticipated AFCON 2025 semifinal clash between Nigeria and Morocco.
He is to be supported by other officials, assistant referees Zakhele Siwela from South Africa and Souru Phatsoane from Lesotho. Other officiating referees are the fourth Official, Samuel Uwikunda from Rwanda and video assistant referee (VAR) Abongile Tom from South Africa.
The match will be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, and it is expected to be one of the tournament’s most explosive fixtures.
Also, CAF has appointed Gabonese referee Pierre Atcho as the centre referee for the Senegal and Egypt semifinal match.
View this post on Instagram
The high-profile encounter will be played at the Tanger Stadium with two African heavyweights battling for a place in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Other officials appointed for the semi-final include Boris Marlaise Ditsoga as assistant referee 1 from Gabon, and assistant referee 2 is Gabonese Styven Moutsassi Moyo. The assistant referee 3 is Amos Abeigne Ndong from Gabon. Fourth Official Jean-Jacques Ngambo Ndala from DR Congo, Keyan Peter Waweru Kamaku is on the VAR with two assistants, Letticia Antonella Viana from Eswatini and Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue from Cameroon.
