CAF Appoints Moroccan Refereeing Crew for AFCON Qualifier Match

Rabat—The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a Moroccan refereeing team, led by Jalal Jayed, to take charge of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Chad and Burundi.

The match is part of the ongoing qualifying campaign or preliminary round for the next edition of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with both sides still looking to strengthen their position in the group standings. Because Chad and Burundi were among the eight lowest-ranked teams in the CAF standings, they must face each other in a two-legged playoff to earn a spot in the main group stage qualifiers. The winner of this aggregate score (home and away) will advance to join the 42 higher-ranked African nations in the final qualifying groups.

CAF has opted for an experienced officiating team for the match, placing Jayed at the center.

Jayed has become a familiar name in continental competitions over the past few years. The Moroccan referee has handled many high-stakes matches across AFCON and World Cup qualifiers. He has earned a reputation for consistency in games where control and decision-making are closely watched. His recent appointments have placed him among the referees regularly trusted by CAF for competitive fixtures.

Here’s the squad for Burundi 🇧🇮 to face Chad in 2027 AFCON Qualifiers this month!

🆕 Daniel Hakizimana (Musongati FC 🇧🇮)
🆕 Djuma Nzeyimana (Aigle Noir 🇧🇮)
🆕 Abdi Ineza (El Mahalla 🇪🇬)
🆕 Mossi Nduwumwe (Singida Black Stars 🇹🇿)

🔙 Youssouf Ndayishimiye (Nice 🇫🇷), Saido… pic.twitter.com/94hqMzbGGZ

— The International Window (@windowintlpod) March 13, 2026

CAF continues to rely on Moroccan officials

This latest appointment shows just how much Morocco’s influence in African refereeing is growing. We’re seeing more and more Moroccan officials in major CAF matches, especially when there’s a lot on the line for qualification.

Jayed is typically part of a stable Moroccan crew, with assistants who have worked alongside him in previous continental fixtures. While the full lineup for this match has not been officially detailed, CAF has often preferred keeping such teams intact for continuity.

This Chad and Burundi fixture could play a role in their qualification path, making refereeing decisions all the more important. In that context, CAF’s choice points to a preference for experience and familiarity at this stage of the campaign.

As the qualifiers progress, performances from officials like Jayed will remain in focus, especially with bigger continental and international tournaments approaching.