Due to Middle East Situation: CAF Elite Referees Camp Canceled as Some Officials Unable to Travel to Cairo

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to cancel the elite referees' camp, which was scheduled to take place in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, from March 3 to 8. This camp was planned ahead of the knockout stages of both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.

The decision to cancel comes as a number of referees from the West and South regions of the continent are unable to travel, due to the current situation in the Middle East.

These circumstances have led to changes in flight routes and the cancellation of bookings, especially since many referees were expected to travel via transit flights through Arab Gulf countries before reaching Cairo.

CAF had organized this preparatory camp for its elite officials in anticipation of the decisive stages of the continental competitions, selecting 72 referees, including main referees, assistant referees, and VAR officials.

The list, obtained by Albotola (the source publication), included Moroccan representation with main referees Jalal Jayed and Hamza El-Fariq, and three assistant referees: Zakaria Brinsi, Mostafa Akarkad, and Lahcen Azgaou.

The first leg matches of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals are expected to kick off in mid-March, according to the schedule previously set by CAF.