Abdel and Carine who were Referee and Assistant Referee respectively in the final of the 2024 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations three months ago have been honoured again for their hard work, commitment and efficient delivery in their duties.
The duo with a respectable reputation back at home have been appointed Referee Mefire and Assistant VAR Atezambong to enhance their reputation as reliable officials.
Mefire, the youngest Referee in the competition has been appointed arbitrate the final match of the CHAN pitting two time winners Morocco against Madagascar - making its debut in the final of any CAF competition.
The final match will mark his 5th game of the competition, but most important is it the second consecutive final of a CAF mens event for Mefire, a CHAN debutant making a bold self introduction.
Carine, who has featured in multiple final matches including CHAN 2020 has been handed the responsibility of the assistant VAR in the third place match. A clash that will mark a reunion of the group D teams Sudan and Senegal at the Mandela stadium in Kampala, Uganda.
The third-place game will mark Carines ninth as Assistant VAR in what has been another memorable tournament for the native of Fomopea in the West Region of Cameroon.
Though she has been assigned to work at the VAR room, Carine will bring huge value to the on-field Refereeing team given her huge experience in what is her 19th tournament.
Carine, a senior staff at Cameroons ministry of Sports and physical education is thus expected to bag home a fourth medal after the game, having picked up a medal as part of the officiating crew in the U-20 AFCON final, Mens CAF Champions League final plus the Womens Africa Cup of Nations Third place playoff match.
This appointment of the two Cameroonians marks a huge recognition and motivation to them and their peers back home as they work, watch and dream to one day earn the call to international competitions.
Cameroon has developed the reputation as one of the best producers of Referees on the continent in the past three decades. The highest moment in the domain was attained in 2019 when the Cameroonian trio of Alioum Siddi, Menkouande Evariste and Noupoue Elvis handled the opening and closing games of the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Sudan versus Nigeria has been scheduled for Friday while Morocco versus Madagascar will be played at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi on Saturday August 30.