Chadian referee Alhadji Allaou Mahamat has been appointed by CAF to officiate Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Madagascar.
The Group L fixture is scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:00 pm local time at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The 40-year-old official brings extensive continental experience, having previously handled matches in the CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup, African Nations Championship (CHAN), and AFCON qualifiers.
Mahamat has already officiated the Super Eagles on two occasions. Nigeria maintained a perfect record under his supervision, defeating Rwanda 1-0 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on September 6, 2025, and overcoming Lesotho 2-1 away on October 10, 2025.
His appointment continues a strong record of managing high-profile African fixtures, including games across World Cup qualifying, the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, and other CAF club competitions.
The Super Eagles will look to start their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign on a positive note under his watch as they host Madagascar in Uyo.
