The nominations were eagerly awaited. Almost a week after the artistic blur surrounding the appointment of referees for the quarter-finals of CAN 2025 and the controversy following the performances of the officials in charge of Cameroon-Morocco and Algeria-Nigeria, the CAF (Confederation of African Football) revealed this Tuesday noon the identity of the two men responsible for directing the semi-finals.
For the first clash, which will pit Senegal against Egypt this Wednesday, January 14 in Tangier (6 p.m.), the body has listed the name of Pierre Atcho. Aged 33, the Gabonese is one of the most experienced referees on the continent. He has already officiated twice during the tournament, during the group match between Algeria and Sudan (3-0) then in the round of 16, where he had already led the Pharaons against Benin on January 5 (3-1 ap).
If no controversy has so far marred Pierre Atcho’s competition, this designation will undoubtedly bring back bad memories to the Senegalese. Indeed, his refereeing was criticized when he crossed paths with the Lions of Teranga in the round of 16 at CAN 2023.
Very criticized by the Senegalese
Eliminated to everyone’s surprise by an Ivory Coast team then in great difficulty (1-1 + 5-4 tab), Kalidou Koulibaly and his partners believed that they should have benefited from a penalty shortly before the hour mark following a foul on Ismaïla Sarr in the penalty area. But during this meeting, Mr. Atcho was also criticized by the Ivorian clan for not having excluded Sadio Mané, who was nevertheless responsible for a nasty foul on Ibrahim Sangaré at the start of the meeting.
Note that the 33-year-old official was among the VAR referees during the quarter-final lost by Algeria to Nigeria on Saturday January 10 (0-2). It was therefore he who had chosen not to summon Issa Sy, at the center of the debates, to allow him to review the images after the controversial hand of Junior Ajayi, vigorously denounced by the Fennecs for several days.
This winter in Morocco, Pierre Atcho is participating in his third African Cup of Nations after the 2021 and 2023 editions. He recently officiated during the Africa zone qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and at the Arab Cup, won by Morocco in Qatar last December.
