The Confédération africaine de football (CAF) has officially released the names of the officials invited to the preparatory workshop for the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations. This stage is a vital prerequisite before the final selection of referees for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Maroc from May 13 to June 2.

In this preliminary list, Sénégal is represented by a single official: El Hadj Amadou Sy. Following the completion of this training program, CAF will determine the definitive roster of referees who will oversee the matches during this CAN U17 in Maroc. Having attained the status of FIFA international referee in 2019, El Hadj Amadou Sy continues to demonstrate his professional growth. Originally from Saint-Louis, he began his career in the “navétanes” community tournaments, starting with the cadet categories before moving up to senior matches and eventually establishing himself in the Senegalese professional league.

A seasoned participant in major continental fixtures, he previously served as an official during the 2023 CAN U20 and was also part of the refereeing team for the last CAN U17. While Sénégal has historically been represented by multiple referees or full trios in such events, El Hadj Amadou Sy will be the only one carrying the national flag during this preparation phase. He aims to secure his place in the final selection to represent Sénégal during the competition, where the national U17 squad will also be competing.

Regarding the representation of other nations, Algérie, Cameroun, RD Congo, Maroc, Zambie, and Afrique du Sud are among the most prominent, each contributing three officials. Other countries, including Tunisie, Mali, Nigeria, and Égypte, have two referees included in this preparatory list.