Boureima Amadou
The Confédération africaine de football (CAF) has officially released the names of the referees invited to the preparatory workshop for the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations. This training session serves as a vital precursor to the announcement of the final officiating team for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Maroc from May 13 to June 2.
A solo representative for Sénégal
In this preliminary selection, El Hadj Amadou Sy stands as the only official representing Sénégal. Once the preparation camp concludes, CAF will determine the definitive list of referees who will preside over the matches during this U17 AFCON in Maroc. Having achieved the status of a FIFA international referee in 2019, El Hadj Amadou Sy’s career continues its impressive upward trajectory.
A native of Saint-Louis, he began his journey in the world of officiating through the local “navétanes” competitions. He successfully moved through the ranks, starting with the cadet categories before advancing to senior matches and eventually establishing himself as a prominent figure in the professional football leagues of Sénégal.
Extensive experience on the continental stage
El Hadj Amadou Sy is no stranger to high-stakes African competitions. He was previously selected for the U20 AFCON in 2023 and also served as an official during the most recent edition of the U17 AFCON. While Sénégal has frequently been represented by multiple officials or even full refereeing trios in the past, Sy will be the sole national flag-bearer during this preparatory phase.
His objective is to secure a spot on the final roster to represent Sénégal in a tournament where the Senegalese youth national team will also be competing. Other nations boast a higher number of representatives in this initial list; Algérie, Cameroun, RD Congo, Maroc, Zambie, and Afrique du Sud each have three officials selected. Meanwhile, countries such as Tunisie, Mali, Nigeria, and Égypte are represented by two referees each.
Mariama Hamani
