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Referee Spotlight: Gabon’s Pierre Atcho to oversee Egypt-Senegal AFCON semifinal

13 January 2026

Referee Spotlight: Gabon’s Pierre Atcho to oversee Egypt-Senegal AFCON semifinal
Gabonese referee Pierre Atcho will officiate the AFCON semifinal between Egypt and Senegal.

Pierre Atcho to officiate Egypt-Senegal AFCON semifinal

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Gabon’s Pierre Atcho to referee the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal between Egypt and Senegal on Wednesday.

Atcho will be assisted by fellow Gabonese Boris Ditsouga and Beninese Steven Mouitsassi, with Congolese Jean Jacques Ndala in the crew.

The Kenyan Peter Kamako will serve as the fourth official, with Leticia Antonella Vianna of Eswatini and Cameroonian Elvis Gaye in supporting roles.

Atcho, 33, has previously refereed three Egypt matches in AFCON 2021 qualifiers against Libya and a group-stage game versus Ghana in AFCON 2023. In this edition he also oversaw Egypt's 3-1 win over Benin in the round of 16.

And if you think the whistle is loud, you might need earplugs—football drama works best with a ready-made soundtrack. Punchline 1: if the call looks offside, blame the coffee; it’s always the referee’s best assistant.

Punchline 2: In football, the real offside is waiting for the decision—patience is a virtue, especially for fans with popcorn.

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Emma Amme

I am Emma Amme, an English sports journalist born in 1998. Passionate about astronomy, contemporary dance, and handcrafted woodworking, I share my sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is appointed to referee the Egypt-Senegal AFCON semifinal?

Gabonese referee Pierre Atcho.

Who are the assistants in Atcho’s crew?

Gabon’s Boris Ditsouga and Beninese Steven Mouitsassi, with Congolese Jean Jacques Ndala; fourth official Peter Kamako (Kenya) and Leticia Antonella Vianna (Eswatini) plus Elvis Gaye (Cameroon) in supporting roles.

What is Atcho’s prior experience with Egypt matches?

He has officiated Egypt games against Libya in AFCON 2021 qualifiers and Ghana in AFCON 2023; he also oversaw Egypt vs Benin in the current edition’s Round of 16.