The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Central African Republic referee Andre Onesime Kolissala-Mbangui to officiate Ghana's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Somalia on November 12, 2026. The match will be played at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Kolissala-Mbangui will be assisted by fellow Central African Republic official Bozoy Oriya Zaoubaye Wilfried De as Assistant Referee I.
The match officials for the Ghana vs Somalia fixture include Juan Ngua Nguema Eleng of Equatorial Guinea as Assistant Referee II and Gerson Adolfo Mico Esono Angono, also from Equatorial Guinea, as the fourth official. Nigeria's Mohammed Sanusi has been appointed as the match commissioner, while Dramane Dante from Mali will serve as the referee assessor. Ghanaian Danny Adotey will be the broadcast venue manager for the match.
CAF has also appointed officials for the return fixture between Somalia and Ghana on November 16, 2026. Namibian referee Mweshitsama Negongo Naftal will take charge of the match, assisted by fellow Namibians Alex Muzibwane Lumponjani and Klaus Masati Bonifatius as Assistant Referee I and II, respectively. Petrus Amutenya will serve as the fourth official for the match.
The match commissioner for the Somalia vs Ghana fixture will be Rwanda's Sekamana Abdoul Khaliq, while Uganda's Brian Nsubuga Miiro has been appointed as the referee assessor. Ghanaian Danny Adotey will again serve as the broadcast venue manager for the return match. The Black Stars will be looking to revive their AFCON qualification campaign after losing two Group C matches against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, will be targeting maximum points from the two meetings with Somalia to improve their position in Group C and strengthen their chances of qualifying for the 2027 tournament. The team will face a crucial test in their qualification campaign, and the appointment of the match officials is an important aspect of the preparations.
The appointment of Kolissala-Mbangui and the other officials has been made to ensure a fair and smooth conduct of the matches. The CAF has a system of appointing referees and officials from different countries to minimize bias and ensure impartiality in the matches. The officials will be expected to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and fairness in their handling of the matches.
The Ghana vs Somalia matches are crucial for the Black Stars' qualification campaign, and the team will be hoping to secure maximum points to boost their chances of advancing to the 2027 AFCON tournament. The appointment of the match officials is a key aspect of the preparations, and the team will be looking forward to a successful outcome in the matches.
Key points
- CAF appoints Central African Republic referee Andre Onesime Kolissala-Mbangui for Ghana vs Somalia AFCON qualifier.
