Senegalese official Issa Sy is set to officiate the highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash between Nigeria and Angola at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan this Friday.
Assisting Sy on the field will be compatriots Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura as assistant referees 1 and 2 respectively.
Abdel Aziz Bouh from Mauritania will serve as the fourth official, ensuring a well-regulated match.
Modibo Samake from Mali has been designated as the reserve assistant referee.
Additionally, Ahmad Nazeer Hossen Bowud from Mauritius and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia will assume the roles of commissioner and referee assessor, respectively, contributing to the match’s officiating team.
Scheduled to kick off at 5 pm Cote d’Ivoire time (6 pm Nigeria time), the encounter marks a rare meeting between Nigeria and Angola at the senior level, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the quarter-final clash.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has been declared fit for the Friday match.
However, Coach Jose Peseiro has hinted at exercising caution to ensure Nwabali is fully fit before fielding him in the crucial tie.
The victor of this quarter-final will progress to face the winner of the Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana clash in the semi-final at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, setting the stage for high-stakes competition as the tournament reaches its pinnacle.