Nigeria’s Baba among 38 referees for 2017 tournament

Intern 15:32 - 08 December 2016

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou announces Gabon as host of the 2017 African Cup of Nations during a CAF executive committee meeting in Cairo April 8, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

17 Referees and 21 Assistant Referees would officiate in the 31st edition of the continental tournament.

Nigeria’s Abel Baba has been named as one of the Assistant Referees to officiate in the forthcoming 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

A statement on the website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday said that 17 Referees and 21 Assistant Referees would officiate in the 31st edition of the continental tournament.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament will hold from Jan. 14 to Feb. 5 in the Gabonese cities of Libreville, Franceville, Port Gentil and Oyem.

NAN reports that Baba, who has a FIFA Badge, was among other Africa FIFA Badge referees that to take part in the CAF FIFA Referees Elite A course in Cairo, Egypt in September.

He also officiated at the 2015 Africa Youth Championship in Senegal.