The African Football Confederation (CAF) has announced the referee lineup for the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations preparation stage, a critical phase before the final selection of officials for the tournament set to take place in Morocco from May 13 to June 2, 2025.
In this preliminary selection, Senegal will be represented by a single referee: El Hadj Amadou Sy. Following this preparatory camp, CAF will finalize the list of referees who will officiate during the tournament. Appointed as a FIFA international referee in 2019, El Hadj Amadou Sy continues to solidify his rising reputation in African football. Born in Saint-Louis, he began his refereeing journey in local navétanes competitions as a youth before advancing through senior ranks and establishing himself in Senegal’s professional league.
With experience in major continental tournaments, Sy previously officiated at the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations and the most recent U17 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was among the selected officials. Historically, Senegal has often been represented by multiple referees or entire Senegalese trios in African competitions. This time, Sy carries the national colors alone during this preparatory phase, aiming to secure a spot on the final list and represent Senegal at the tournament, where the Senegalese U17 national team will also compete.
key highlights of the referee selection
- Top represented nations: Algeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, Morocco, Zambia, and South Africa each have three referees in the camp.
- Other qualified countries: Tunisia, Mali, Nigeria, and Egypt each have two referees selected for the preparation stage.
