Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has chosen five Moroccan referees to officiate in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which will unfold from February 1 to 28 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The list includes many highly regarded referees, such as Bouchra Karboubi, who won the CAF Referee of the Year award in 2024, and Mustapha Kachaf as main referees.
Karboubi stands out as a trailblazer in Moroccan football. Named the fifth-best female referee in the world for 2024 by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), she has earned global recognition for her achievements.
She became an international referee in 2016, marking a turning point in her career. Since then, Karboubi has officiated in some of the world’s most prestigious tournaments, including the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and the women’s football semifinal at the 2024 Olympics.
Hamza Nassiri and Fatiha Jarmouni will serve as assistant referees, while Hamza El Fariq will manage the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
A team with experience
The Moroccan referees selected for CHAN 2025 bring with them a wealth of experience.
They played major roles in the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in 2021 in Cameroon and 2023 in Ivory Coast. Beyond the continent, they have also contributed to several international competitions, cementing their reputation for professionalism and skill.
Morocco’s presence among the CHAN 2025 officials reflects the country’s steady investment in football development.
Joining the Moroccans’ referee lineup are top officials from across Africa, including Adissa Abdoul Raphiou Ligali from Benin, Ahmed Abulrazg from Libya, Melki Mehrez from Tunisia, and many others.
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