CAF Referee of the Year 2025 (Men): Omar Artan (SOM)
CAF Assistant Referee of the Year 2025 (Men): Liban Abdoulrazack (DJI)
CAF Referee of the Year 2025 (Women): Shamirah Nabadda (UGA)
CAF Assistant Referee of the Year 2025 (Women): Tabara Mbodji (SEN)
Omar Artan’s crowning as the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year has become one of the most celebrated moments in African football this season. The honor was bestowed during a vibrant CAF Awards ceremony on 19 November 2025, held at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Rabat, Morocco, an event widely regarded as the pinnacle of African football celebration. Omar Artan, hailing from Somalia, has distinguished himself over recent seasons as one of Africa’s most respected referees. During the 2025 football year, his presence in top-tier matches from Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers to CAF Champions League fixtures established his reputation for calm authority and decisiveness. As he accepted his award, Artan expressed gratitude to CAF, fellow referees, and his home country, emphasizing the collective progress made by African referees. He highlighted how investment in training and technology has elevated the continent’s refereeing standards, inspiring newer generations and contributing to the credibility of African competitions. “I am proud to receive this award. It is a privilege for me”, he said. CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe personally congratulated Artan, noting that his achievement reflects the remarkable rise in professionalism and influence among African referees. The award is widely regarded as a symbol of shifting perceptions and increasing respect for African officials in international football. (Source: Dawan)
Ugandan FIFA referee Shamirah Nabadda has won the 2025 CAF Women's Referee of the Year. Nabadda's recognition comes after another outstanding year in which she officiated major continental and global tournaments - including the African Nations Championships jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania - reinforcing her status as one of Africa's most respected referees. At just 29, Nabadda has built an impressive refereeing résumé. She made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the first female Ugandan referee to officiate at the Games, a breakthrough moment for Ugandan officiating. Her strong performances have seen her consistently appointed to high-stakes encounters. In July, she was named centre referee for the 2024 WAFCON semi-final between South Africa and Nigeria - one of the tournament's biggest fixtures. She has previously handled matches at the 2022 WAFCON, the All-Africa Games (2023), the World University Games in Napoli (2019), the Cecafa Women's Senior Championship. In another milestone, FIFA selected Nabadda in August 2024 as one of the officials for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic, making her the first Ugandan referee to officiate at that tournament. (Source: All Africa)