African Referees at Cup of Nations

[MassachusettsRef]

I haven't seen any of these matches, but I've compiled some statistics on the referees being considered for WC duty. I'd be great if anyone who saw the matches could comment:

Semifinal - Nigeria/Ivory Coast - 0:1 - DAMON (RSA) - 3 cautions
Quarterfinal - Cameroon/Ivory Coast - 1:1 - GUEZZAZ (MOR) - 3 cautions
Quarterfinal - Egypt/Congo DR - 4:1 - SOWE (GAM) - 3 cautions
Quarterfinal - Guinea/Senegal - 2:3 - CODIJA (BEN) - 2 cautions
Group A - Libya/Morocco - 0:0 - DAAMI (TUN) - 3 cautions
Group A - Egypt/Morocco - 0:0 - CODIJA (BEN) - 3 cautions
Group A - Morocco/Ivory Coast - 0:1 - DAMON (RSA) - 0 cautions
Group B - Cameroon/Togo - 2:0 - SOWE (GAM) - 2 cautions
Group B - Togo/Congo DR - 0:2 - DAAMI (TUN) - 2 cautions
Group B - Cameroon/Angola - 3:1 - GUEZZAZ (MOR) - 3 cautions
Group C - Zambia/South Africa - 1:0 - FATTAH (EGY) - 2 cautions
Group D - Nigeria/Senegal - 2:1 - DAMON (RSA) - 3 cautions
Group D - Nigeria/Ghana - 1:0 - FATTAH (EGY) - 3 cautions

A few observations:

1) Judging by the assigments, I think DAAMI of Tunisia gets the Final. He and FATTAH are the only two WC candidates to not work in the knockout stages, and since Egypt is in the final, it has to be DAAMI's match.

2) I'm not usually one for reading too much into statistics insofar as refereeing, but having no send offs and having 2-3 cautions in every match but one (which had zero), is very strange. Is it a sign of quality officiating in these matches? Uniformity? Or, in some cases, an unwillingness to not do what needs to be done? I can't say at all because, like I said, I haven't seen the matches. Just thought I'd put this thread out there for consideration.

[Englishref]

I've seen some games, and it's very safe to say they chose the best CAF referees to (possibly) go to the WC. Coffi Codjia has been trusted with the big African derbies and matches, although I think he had an awful first game.

The common trait however, seems to be that they punish the technical offences (dissent, encroachment, time wasting, etc), but don't correctly punish penal offences. Some of the tackles in these games have been shocking, but have been met with just a yellow card or even a mere warning. However, the WC candidates are less guilty of this, but they do still do it.

IMO, if they go to the WC, and referee like this, they won't get much further than the group stages, as FIFA come down especially hard on tackles in their tournaments. Mourad Daami has impressed me nevertheless, and it's almost certain to be him for the final.

The ARing has on the whole been shocking as well, which is more worrying for me, than the standard of the refereeing.

[ursula]

Fortunately the ref of the semifinal (Egypt-Senegal) is NOT reffing the WC. Oooh boy.:eek:

[MassachusettsRef]

Fortunately the ref of the semifinal (Egypt-Senegal) is NOT reffing the WC. Oooh boy.:eek:Well, the CAF certainly doesn't mince words when discussing their own referees. From the official site:

Hosts Egypt made it into the final of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday night with a narrow win over Senegal, but their victory was tainted by an atrocious piece of refereeing right at the death from Cameroonian Evehe Divine. Nigeria will now play Senegal in the third place play-off on Thursday and Egypt and Cote D’Ivoire will meet for the MTN Africa Cup of Nations on Friday at Cairo International Stadium.My understanding is that he started to award a clear penalty and then stopped, signalling goal kick instead. Without having any knowledge of the ref in question, I wonder why one of the 6 WC candidates wasn't on the semifinal. It doesn't make much sense.

[ursula]

My understanding is that he started to award a clear penalty and then stopped, signalling goal kick instead. Without having any knowledge of the ref in question, I wonder why one of the 6 WC candidates wasn't on the semifinal. It doesn't make much sense.


Yeah- I was wondering the same.

[Englishref]

Well, the CAF certainly doesn't mince words when discussing their own referees. From the official site:

My understanding is that he started to award a clear penalty and then stopped, signalling goal kick instead. Without having any knowledge of the ref in question, I wonder why one of the 6 WC candidates wasn't on the semifinal. It doesn't make much sense.

Well Divine Evehe is an experienced CAF official, having done the last 2 ACNs (iirc), so he had the experience. Unfortunately, he did seem to 'bottle' giving a clear penalty to Senegal in the last minute which would have sent them through to extra time. I didn't see him go to blow for it, he seemed to point straight for a goal kick. However, he was excellently positioned and couldn't have had a better view, yet still never gave it.

[MassachusettsRef]

Well, it's DAAMI for the Final. But, this article doesn't exactly put the best spin on his appointment:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=358043&cc=5901

Another thing I find odd is that CAF isn't assigning referees and assistant referees together in set crews, like they will be for the World Cup.

[ursula]

Yeah I just read about Daami's history on another site. Why is he being considered for the WC?

[MassachusettsRef]

Yeah I just read about Daami's history on another site. Why is he being considered for the WC?It seems like a blip on his record. Maybe he went to the locker room as a veteran referee to try to counsel a younger referee in what was a very difficult environment. Maybe he didn't realize the appearance of inpropriety. Who knows?

But, by almost all accounts, insofar as on-field performance goes, he is the best that Africa has to offer. It's just unfortunate that now there's this cloud hanging over his head. A controversial performance tomorrow would be a very bad thing.

[Englishref]

It seems like a blip on his record. Maybe he went to the locker room as a veteran referee to try to counsel a younger referee in what was a very difficult environment. Maybe he didn't realize the appearance of inpropriety. Who knows?

But, by almost all accounts, insofar as on-field performance goes, he is the best that Africa has to offer. It's just unfortunate that now there's this cloud hanging over his head. A controversial performance tomorrow would be a very bad thing.

I rate Codjia ahead of Daami personally, but Daami is certainly one of Africa's best referees, and is way better than most of the others at the ACN 2006. IMO, it's a safe appointment.

As for ARs, it is strange that they're not working in teams, and not only that, but I believe, those ARs used by the CAF WC candidates at FIFA tournaments in 2005 (and therefore those likely to go with them if they are selected) aren't even being used. :confused:

[midknight]

But, by almost all accounts, insofar as on-field performance goes, he is the best that Africa has to offer. It's just unfortunate that now there's this cloud hanging over his head. A controversial performance tomorrow would be a very bad thing.

Tell me that penalty tothe egyptians didn't help his cv much...

[Englishref]

Tell me that penalty tothe egyptians didn't help his cv much...

No. I didn't think that was a penalty, it was an IDFK at worst, although given the Egyptian jumped in, even that would have been harsh. Unfortunately, I doubt it's the last time we'll see a host-nation get a very dodgy decision this year...

[midknight]

No. I didn't think that was a penalty, it was an IDFK at worst, although given the Egyptian jumped in, even that would have been harsh.

Especially since there was actually no contact...:rolleyes: