On the coronary heart of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, a particular initiative lit up the behind-the-scenes of the match: an open-door session for refereeing held on the Kahrama Centre in Casablanca. Throughout two hours of coaching, the referees had the chance to fine-tune their expertise underneath the watchful eye of Souleymane Waberi, CAF Vice-President and Chairman of the Youth Soccer Committee. On a pitch geared up with eight cameras and a management room devoted to VAR, the session provided a deep dive into the meticulous work carried out by officers forward of the quarter-final.
In a extremely technical setting, reflecting the standard of infrastructure offered by Morocco, the 45 referees concerned within the competitors (together with 10 VAR officers) gathered for a second of sharing, demonstration, and refinement. The session was fastidiously divided into areas: one for bodily restoration for referees who had officiated the day past, one other for assistant referees, and a 3rd for VAR-specific work. The aims have been clear: to enhance positioning, excellent decision-making within the penalty space — described as probably the most harmful zone by Désiré Noumandiez Doué, Chairman of CAF’s Referees Committee — and to boost VAR evaluate instances, that are nonetheless generally thought-about too lengthy.
Getting ready the Subsequent Technology At present
For Souleymane Waberi, this session totally embodies CAF’s philosophy concerning youth soccer: creating an surroundings conducive to studying, expressing expertise, and making ready for worldwide competitions. “When younger folks have pitches like this, it is a celebration,” he mentioned after the primary part of the match, referring to the standard of the spectacle. “Plenty of objectives are being scored — lovely objectives. It is nice for the younger gamers and for the event of our soccer in Africa.”
The stakes are even increased this 12 months, because the U-17 AFCON is a qualifying match for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with, for the primary time, 10 African groups anticipated to take part.
For Désiré Noumandiez Doué, which means a rigorous choice course of primarily based on technical skill, youth, and the capability to adapt to fast-paced and unpredictable matches: “We want to have younger referees in a youth setting. It helps them perceive the sport higher, react faster, and join extra simply with the gamers.”
Throughout this session, a apply match with a neighborhood staff was included to simulate dwell match circumstances, modify assistant referees’ viewing angles, work on real-time VAR procedures, and strengthen communication amongst all elements of the officiating staff. “We seen some weaknesses in focus and positioning.
Ladies Referees: The Daybreak of a New Period
Among the many 45 officers chosen for this match, 13 are ladies — a primary that symbolises the deep transformation of the African refereeing panorama. “It is a robust sign to ladies’s soccer,” says Doué. “You have all seen how the ladies have carried out on the completely different pitches. They’re making their mark. Hats off to them.” Their presence is the results of a transparent gender-focused method, in addition to years of devoted work to present them confidence, instruments, and obligations. “It permits ladies to flourish extra, with out hesitation, particularly in what has historically been a male-dominated surroundings,” Doué added.
One inspiring determine is Senegalese referee Tabara Mbodji, who represents this rising era.
“The U-17 Africa Cup of Nations is a well-structured competitors the place we get to make use of VAR in a sensible setting. You may really feel that CAF believes in us. It pushes us to intention increased, to focus on the highest competitions.” For Tabara, the aim is evident: “I wish to show that we belong — not simply in Africa however globally.”
Feminine participation is not only a quota — it is changing into a driving power for transformation. On the Casablanca workshops, the ladies referees obtained the identical suggestions, participated in the identical drills, and analysed the identical VAR sequences as their male counterparts.
Eyes on the Future
This open-door day in Casablanca showcased the evolution underway in African refereeing. It’s not afraid to innovate, it trusts in youth, consists of ladies as key gamers in its growth, and prepares diligently to fulfill the calls for of high-level soccer. With Morocco’s top-tier infrastructure — praised by Waberi as “one of many international locations this 12 months to have developed high-quality services” — the U-17 AFCON is changing into an open-air laboratory of excellence.
On this spirit, African refereeing is equipping itself to assist the rise of youth soccer on the continent and to put the foundations for a extra distinguished presence on the worldwide stage. As Waberi summed it up: “This 12 months, Africa goes far — very far. And refereeing should go along with it.”
