Kenyan Referee Set to Officiate AFCON 2025 Final as Morocco Clash with Senegal

Kenyan referee Stephen Yiembe is set to play a key role in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final, which will see hosts Morocco take on Senegal on Sunday night in Rabat.

Kenyan match officials have made a strong impression throughout the tournament, and their performances have been rewarded with involvement in the showpiece finale. As AFCON 2025 comes to an end, one Kenyan referee will be part of the officiating team tasked with handling one of the most anticipated matches on the African football calendar.

Morocco head into the final chasing their second AFCON title and their first since lifting the trophy in 1976. Playing on home soil adds another layer of pressure for the Atlas Lions, who will be eager to satisfy their supporters. Senegal, meanwhile, are determined to reclaim the continental crown they won in 2021 and reassert themselves as Africa’s dominant force.

Given the stakes, the final demands flawless officiating, and Yiembe is among the nine match officials entrusted with the responsibility. The experienced Kenyan will serve as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the clash, which will be staged at the iconic Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.

Who Else is Working on the AFCON Final?

The on-field officiating team will be led by Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ngambo Ndala, who will take charge as the centre referee. He will be assisted by compatriots Guylain Bongele Ngila and Gradel Mwanya Mbilizi, while Guinean official Styven Moutsassasi Moyo has been appointed as the fourth official.

South Africa’s Abongile Tom will head the VAR team, working alongside Yiembe, Gabon’s Pierre Atcho and Leticcia Viana.

Yiembe is one of four Kenyan referees selected for AFCON 2025, alongside Peter Waeru Kamaku, Dickens Mimisa and Gilbert Cheruiyot. Throughout the tournament, he has officiated several high-profile matches, including group-stage encounters between Angola and South Africa, as well as Angola versus Zimbabwe.

He also served as an assistant referee during Cameroon’s Round of 16 victory over South Africa and later featured as part of the VAR team in the semi-final between Nigeria and Morocco, underlining his growing reputation on the continental stage.