Senegalese referee Issa Sy will be in charge when Nigeria and Algeria meet in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final at the Grande Stade de Marrakesh, Afrosport reports.
The 41-year-old has been appointed to oversee the high-stakes encounter, with fellow Senegalese officials Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura serving as first and second assistant referees.
Kenya’s Peter Waweru will act as the fourth official, while Gilbert Cheruiyot Kipkoech has been named reserve assistant referee.
Video assistant referee duties will be led by Pierre Atcho, supported by Stephen Yiembe of Kenya and Antonella Viana from Swaziland. Moroccan official Yahya Hadqa will serve as referee assessor for the match.
The encounter in Marrakesh will be the second consecutive AFCON quarter-final involving Nigeria officiated by Sy. The Senegalese previously handled the Super Eagles’ last-eight clash against Angola at the previous edition of the tournament in Ivory Coast.
Sy has also been involved in Nigeria’s campaign at the ongoing finals in Morocco, serving as VAR during their group-stage win over Tunisia in Fes. In that match, Bright Osayi-Samuel was penalised for handball inside the box, but Nigeria held firm to claim victory despite sustained late pressure from the Carthage Eagles.
Saturday’s showdown is scheduled to kick off at 5pm Nigerian time, and carries added significance as a repeat of the 2019 AFCON semi-final. On that occasion, Algeria edged Nigeria on their way to lifting the trophy in Egypt.
With a place in the semi-finals at stake, both sides will be keen to settle old scores in Marrakesh, as Nigeria look to continue their strong run at the tournament and Algeria aim to revive memories of past success.
