Gambian and top African referee Papa Gassama has been named as one of the match officials in next month’s African Nations Cup in Egypt.
The 40-year-old is among 27 other central referees lined up for the 24-team competition set to kick off on June 21 in Egypt.
Gassama and his colleagues recently passed medical examination and fitness test seminar in Morocco where they were lectured on what aspects of the game to concentrate on during the tournament from June 21 to July 19 in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria, Cairo, Ismailia and Suez.
The amended laws will apply at the tournament after the officials spent time on things which include management of the defensive wall and tighter rules on handballs.
Officials also need to continue the Video Assistant Referees’ (VAR) training in order to be qualified by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to operate the technology during the tournament.
Meanwhile should he be put in charge of any fixture involving host Egypt, Gassama could again face fans of Al-Ahly who chanted abuse at the Gambian referee, referring him as a slave at the end of the quarterfinal match between them and Mamelody Sundowns of South Africa. Papa showed maturity and never reacted to the provocations. It is not known whether Caf has taken steps over the matter.
