The Moroccans know the name of their referee in the round of 16 of CAN 2025. Opposed to Tanzania this Sunday, January 4, 2026 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the Atlas Lions will be led by a Malian official in the person of Boubou Traoré, designated by CAF for the host country’s first knockout match in the tournament.
Aged 36, Mr. Traoré is an experienced referee at this level of the competition. This winter in Morocco, he is taking part in his third African Cup of Nations, after the 2021 and 2023 editions. Note that he will be accompanied by the Senegalese Issa Sy, who will be in charge of video refereeing during the meeting.
A highly criticized arbitration at the start of CAN
On the other hand, the Malian official had an eventful start to the CAN. At the whistle of the meeting between Nigeria and Tunisia (3-2), on December 27, his refereeing was strongly criticized by supporters of the Carthage Eagles. Around the hour mark, Boubou Traoré made a mistake by not giving the advantage to a Tunisian counter-attack, while Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane headed one-on-one in front of Stanley Nwabali. Problem: the last Nigerian rampart had then cut up his opponent, forced to come off injured, without the referee whistling either a penalty or a red card.
At the end of the match, Mr. Traoré awarded a penalty to the Tunisians following an unclear handball from Bright Osayi-Samuel in the penalty area. “It should not have been awarded,” complained Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles striker, at the end of the match.
While an overheated atmosphere is expected in Rabat for the round of 16 of the Moroccan favorite, the 36-year-old official will be closely scrutinized and will certainly not be able to afford such an error of judgment.
