Sénégal’s lone referee in caf under17 2025 preparation stage

The Senegalese contingent will be represented by a single match official: El Hadj Amadou Sy. Following this preparatory stage, CAF will finalize the roster of referees who will oversee matches during the U17 CAN in Morocco. Having earned the FIFA International Referee title in 2019, El Hadj Amadou Sy continues to solidify his reputation as a top-tier official. The Saint-Louis native began his refereeing journey in local navétanes competitions, starting in cadet categories before steadily advancing through senior ranks and eventually establishing himself in Senegal’s professional football league.

With extensive experience in continental tournaments, El Hadj Amadou Sy has officiated at both the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations and the recent U17 edition, where he was among the selected officials. Historically, Senegal has fielded multiple referees or full Senegalese trios in past African competitions. This year, however, the nation pins its hopes solely on El Hadj Amadou Sy’s performance during the preparatory stage, with aspirations of securing a spot in the final officiating lineup and proudly representing Senegal in the tournament—where the national U17 team will also compete.

Several countries boast strong representation in this preparatory stage, including Algeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, Morocco, Zambia, and South Africa, each contributing three referees. Meanwhile, nations like Tunisia, Mali, Nigeria, and Egypt have two officials each in the running.