AFCON 2023: Amin Mohamed Omar to officiate tonight’s opening match
Amin Mohamed Omar of Egypt has been named referee for the opening match of the 34th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
The match official will be in charge when the host nation take on Guinea BIssau in Saturday’s opening game in Abidjan.
The 39-year-old has high level experience and officiated during the FIFA™ U-17 World Cup in Brazil in 2019.
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The Egyptian will be supported by his Compatriots Mahmoud Ahmed Kamel and Ahmed Hossam Taha.
Mahmoud Elbana has also appointed as the VAR referee of the match.
The match between Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 GMT at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpé.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles who take on Equatorial Guinea tomorrow will have to dig deep to rattle their 22 year old goalkeeper Jesus Owono who holds the reins of the Nzalang Nacional defense.
“He’s a modern goalkeeper. On the pitch, his charisma speaks for itself. I really admire his kicking game.” confides Juan Micha Obiang, the Equatoguinean coach.
With his athletic ability and his 84-meter height, the Deportivo Alavés goalkeeper is one of Africa’s most highly rated keepers along with André Onana and Edouard Mendy.
Owono has all the qualities of a talented goalkeeper. He has very good reflexes, is quick and capable of powerful and precise distribution (both with the foot and the hand) and is excellent at stopping penalties.
“I had never been classically trained and in a way that probably helped me. I had no time to think so I acted on instinct.”
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This is a natural gift for the shot-stopper. He defines himself as someone with an immense curiosity about everything”, who learns about things, while having fun.
Choosing football as a profession is also a way for him to find an activity with well-defined rules that allows him to have fun while avoiding being distracted. “Football imposed a disciplined environment on and off the field for me.”
Facing Nigeria, Jesús Owono will have to deploy all his qualities in order to repel the attacks of the Super Eagles.