Officially: Algerian refereeing team to officiate Ivory Coast vs Ghana clash

The CAF referees committee has appointed an Algerian officiating crew for the match between Ivory Coast and Ghana, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, as part of the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification for 2027.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal to officiate the match, who has extensive experience at both continental and international levels. He will be assisted by his compatriots Abbas Zerhouni and Makran Gourani, while Lotfi Boukawasa will serve as the fourth official, making the entire officiating team from Algeria.

The match will take place at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, starting at 10 PM Saudi time, as part of Group C, which also includes The Gambia and Somalia alongside Ivory Coast and Ghana.

The match is particularly important for the Ivory Coast national team, which begins its Africa Cup of Nations Qualification campaign at home against one of its main rivals in the group. It also marks the official debut of Frenchman Hervé Renard at the helm of the Elephants.

The match is expected to witness a fierce battle between the two national teams to secure the first three points in the qualification race for the Africa Cup of Nations.