Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will officiate Morocco's AFCON 2027 qualifier against Niger in Casablanca on November 13, highlighting Somalia's growing presence in African football.
Artan will lead the officiating team for the third-round Group A encounter at the Mohammed V Sports Complex, with compatriots Hamza Haji Abdi and Ali Mahmoud Mahad serving as assistant referees, according to the appointments published by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 pm local time, as Morocco host Niger in the first of two consecutive meetings between the sides during the November international window.
The teams will meet again four days later, on November 17, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, in the fourth round of the qualifying campaign. Ethiopian referee Tewodros Mitiku has been appointed to oversee that fixture, assisted by fellow Ethiopian officials.
The back-to-back matches are important for both sides as they seek to strengthen their positions in the race to qualify for the 2027 tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Morocco head into the fixtures at the top of Group A after winning their opening two qualifying matches against Gabon and Lesotho in September. Further victories against Niger would strengthen their position in the group and improve their prospects of reaching the finals.
Niger, meanwhile, will be seeking positive results in both encounters to improve their standing in the group and keep their qualification hopes alive.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
Artan's appointment adds to a growing list of high-profile international assignments for the Somali official, who has established himself among Africa's recognised referees.
In 2025, CAF named Artan its Men's Referee of the Year in recognition of his performances at continental level. He has been on FIFA's international referees list since 2018 and has officiated major African club competitions, including the CAF Champions League.
In June 2026, UEFA appointed Artan to referee the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, Austria, between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, following discussions with CAF. The appointment marked another significant international assignment for the Somali official.
Artan had also been selected among the officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was unable to participate after he was prevented from continuing his journey to the United States. The Somali Football Federation said at the time that it had not received official information explaining the circumstances.
His latest CAF appointment offers another opportunity to officiate at the highest level of African international football as Morocco and Niger prepare for two decisive encounters in their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be the 36th edition of the continental tournament, bringing together Africa's leading national teams. The November qualifiers will be part of the campaign to determine which countries secure places at the finals.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
Fahad Yasin Warns President Hassan Sheikh Is Pushing Somalia Toward Sudan-Style Crisis
