CAN 2025: the referee for the Algeria vs Nigeria match sidelined… due to his cleats.

The Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been dropped from the highly anticipated quarter-final between Nigeria and Algeria, according to reports by the Daily Post. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is said to have made this decision after finding that the official wore, during a previous match, shoes from a brand not among the sponsors’ officially licensed equipment suppliers for the competition. A breach of the applicable regulations, deemed sufficient to justify his removal from this high-stakes fixture.

Ironically, Omar Abdulkadir Artan had recently been named Referee of the Year at the CAF Awards 2025, held in Rabat, Morocco, recognizing up to then the quality of his performances on African pitches. CAF is expected to announce in the coming hours the identity of the referee to replace him for this crucial quarter-final match. The Nigeria–Algeria showdown is scheduled for Saturday at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.