The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to take charge of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash between Nigeria and Algeria, Afrosport reports.
The highly anticipated encounter will be played at the Stade de Marrakech on Saturday, 10 January, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 pm Nigerian time.
The fixture awakens memories of the 2019 AFCON semi-final, when Algeria edged past the Super Eagles with a dramatic 2-1 victory on their way to lifting the trophy.
Artan, meanwhile, is regarded as one of Africa’s most respected officials and is among the referees selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, underlining CAF’s confidence in his ability to handle high-pressure fixtures.
The Somali referee is no stranger to Algeria on the continental stage. He previously officiated the Desert Foxes during the 2023 AFCON, including their group-stage match against Mauritania.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles booked their place in the quarter-finals with a commanding 4-0 victory over Mozambique in a drama-filled round of 16 encounter. Algeria, meanwhile, were pushed to the limit and required a 119th-minute strike from Adil Boulbina to edge past DR Congo.
Saturday’s showdown in Marrakech will mark the 10th meeting between the two sides at the Africa Cup of Nations, with Nigeria eager to avenge past defeats to their North African rivals as they continue their quest for a fourth continental title.
