AFCON 2025 chaos: Somali referee axed from quarter-final over unauthorized boots

AFCON’s quarter-final stage resumes tonight with the highly anticipated clash between Nigeria and Algeria, the winner of which will face host nation Morocco in the semi-finals. Both sides boast star-studded squads, with Algeria featuring Manchester City full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri and former City winger Riyad Mahrez, while Nigeria rely on key figures such as Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen.

The match is scheduled to take place at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco. Artan, who was named CAF Referee of the Year in 2025, had initially been confirmed as the match official. However, only a few hours before kick-off, he was unexpectedly withdrawn from the appointment.

According to Daily Post, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) took the decision after Artan was seen wearing boots from a non-approved brand during a previous match. Reports indicated that referees are required to wear Puma boots, in line with the tournament’s sponsorship agreement. As of now, CAF have not issued an official statement addressing the incident.

Speculation on social media suggested that the Nigeria Football Federation may have raised a complaint with the hosts, contributing to the referee’s removal. However, African media outlets have not reported any involvement from the NFF. Many observers believe CAF acted primarily to protect its commercial agreements, while fans have criticised the punishment as excessively harsh.

This incident is the latest in a series of refereeing controversies at AFCON 2025. Ahead of the quarter-final between Morocco and Cameroon, Egyptian referee Amin Omar was initially appointed to officiate but was later replaced by Mauritanian official Dahane Beida. According to French outlet L’Équipe, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation lodged a complaint over Omar’s appointment.

Nigeria and Algeria are set to kick off at 11:00 PM on January 10, with the final quarter-final between Egypt and Ivory Coast following at 2:00 AM on January 11 (GMT+7). The winner of that tie will face Senegal in the semi-finals.