The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released its list of selected referees for a preparatory course ahead of the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations. This training is a critical step before the final roster of officials is confirmed for the tournament, scheduled to take place in Morocco from May 13 to June 2.
In this preliminary selection, Senegal’s hopes rest on a single official: referee El Hadj Amadou Sy. Following the conclusion of this preparatory stage, CAF will determine the final list of referees who will officiate during the U17 AFCON in Morocco. Appointed as a FIFA international referee in 2019, El Hadj Amadou Sy’s selection underscores his continued professional ascent. The Saint-Louis native began his officiating career in local “navétanes” competitions, initially in the youth categories, before methodically climbing the ranks to the senior level and establishing himself in the Senegalese professional championship.
Familiar with continental tournaments, Sy has previously officiated at the U20 AFCON in 2023 and the last U17 AFCON, where he was among the selected officials. In previous African competitions, Senegal was often represented by multiple referees or a complete trio. This time, El Hadj Amadou Sy will be the nation’s lone representative during this preparatory phase. His ambition is to make the final cut and represent Senegal at the tournament, which will also feature the participation of the nation’s U17 team.
By comparison, several other nations have a larger contingent of referees in this preliminary phase. Algeria, Cameroon, the DR Congo, Morocco, Zambia, and South Africa each have three representatives. Other countries, including Tunisia, Mali, Nigeria, and Egypt, have two referees on the list.
