The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Pierre Ghislain Atcho, a highly regarded referee from Gabon, will take charge of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matchday eight showdown between South Africa and Nigeria.
The blockbuster fixture, which could prove decisive in Group C’s qualification race, is scheduled for Tuesday at Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, with both nations vying for a critical edge in the final stretch of the qualifiers.
Atcho to Lead All-Gabonese Officiating Team
Atcho will be supported by his Gabonese colleagues:
- Boris Marlaise Ditsoga – Assistant Referee 1
- Amos Abeigne Ndong – Assistant Referee 2
- Cregue Fleury Moukagni – Fourth Official
To ensure the highest standards of officiating, Olivier Safari Kabene from the Democratic Republic of Congo has been appointed referee assessor, while Mike Letti of Uganda will act as match commissioner.
Nigeria vs Rwanda to be Handled by Chadian Officials
Before the high-profile clash in Bloemfontein, the Super Eagles will first face Rwanda on Saturday, matchday seven, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
That encounter will be officiated by Allaou Mahamat from Chad, with fellow Chadian officials Bogollah Issa (Assistant Referee 1), Moussa Hafiz (Assistant Referee 2), and Abdelkerim Ousmane (Fourth Official) completing the crew.
For this fixture, Taher Abdelsalam Mahmoud of Egypt will oversee referee assessment, while veteran Gambian official Bakary Jammeh will serve as commissioner.
Why These Appointments Matter
The appointments come at a time when officiating standards are under intense global scrutiny, particularly in decisive World Cup qualifiers. Both Nigeria and South Africa remain in tight contention for a ticket to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico,
