The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the list of referees selected for the preparatory stage ahead of the upcoming African Nations Cup U17, a crucial step before the final roster of officials is unveiled for the tournament set to take place in Morocco from 13 May to 2 June.
El Hadj Amadou Sy: Senegal’s sole representative in CAF’s U17 referee selection
Among the chosen officials, Senegal is proud to have El Hadj Amadou Sy as its only representative. After this preparatory stage, CAF will finalize the list of referees who will officiate at the U17 CAN in Morocco. Appointed as a FIFA international referee in 2019, El Hadj Amadou Sy continues to solidify his rising status in African football. Hailing from Saint-Louis, he began his officiating journey in local competitions, starting with youth navétanes tournaments before progressing through senior tiers and ultimately establishing himself in Senegal’s professional league.
Experience on the continental stage
With extensive experience in major continental competitions, El Hadj Amadou Sy has officiated at the U20 CAN in 2023 and was among the selected officials for the most recent U17 CAN. Traditionally, Senegal has often fielded multiple referees or entire Senegalese trios in past African tournaments. This time, however, El Hadj Amadou Sy carries the nation’s hopes alone during this preparatory phase, aiming to secure a spot in the definitive list and represent Senegal at the upcoming competition—where the country’s U17 national team will also compete.
Global representation in the CAF referee selection
Among the nations with the highest representation in this stage are Algeria, Cameroon, the DR Congo, Morocco, Zambia, and South Africa, each contributing three referees. Other countries like Tunisia, Mali, Nigeria, and Egypt have two officials selected for this preparatory stage.
