Ghana has been left out of the preliminary list of African referees being considered for officiating duties at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ten referees from across the continent have been included in the initial shortlist released by FIFA as preparations intensify for the expanded global tournament.
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico and will feature 48 teams for the first time in the competition’s history.
Despite Africa being allocated nine automatic qualification slots for the tournament, no Ghanaian referee has made the preliminary list, a development that may raise concerns within the country’s officiating circles.
Morocco could further extend its representation in officiating roles, as international referee Hamza El Farouk is reportedly under consideration for a position within the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team.
However, both FIFA and Confederation of African Football have not yet finalized the list of officials for the tournament. The governing bodies have also dismissed circulating reports regarding confirmed selections as unverified.
The process for selecting referees for the World Cup involves several stages of evaluation, including technical assessments, fitness tests, and performance monitoring in continental and international competitions. Officials are closely assessed based on their decision-making, match management, and overall consistency.
As the tournament approaches, the preliminary list is expected to be trimmed further as referees undergo additional assessments before the final officiating teams are confirmed.
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup will be the largest in history, spanning three nations and featuring an expanded format. As the competition approaches, African referees on the shortlist will aim to secure a place on the final roster and represent the continent on football’s biggest stage.
Preliminary list of African referees:
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Jean-Jacques Ndala (DR Congo)
Amin Omar (Egypt)
Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
Beida Dahane (Mauritania)
Issa Sy (Senegal)
Omar Artan (Somalia)
Tom Abunjil (South Africa)
Mahmoud Ismail (Sudan)
Jalal Jiyed (Morocco)
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Sylvester Ntim
