Joseph Ogarbor to lead Nigerian officials for CAF Champions League match in Ghana
Nigerian referee Joseph Ogarbor has been appointed to officiate the first-leg clash between Ghanaian side Medeama SC and five-time African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the CAF Champions League, Made In Africa Sport reports.
Ogarbor will lead a four-man Nigerian officiating team for the fixture at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
According to the Ghana Football Association, Ogarbor has been designated as the centre referee, with compatriots Tejiri Besmart Digbori and Ahmad Tijani Mustapha appointed as assistant referees, while Salisu Basher will serve as the fourth official.
The Gambian Bakary Jammeh has been appointed match commissioner, while Ivorian referee assessor Sinko Zeli will serve as the referee assessor.
The appointment comes as the 2026/27 CAF Champions League gets underway this weekend, with the first preliminary round first legs scheduled for September 4-6.
The return legs will be played from September 11-13, with the 16 clubs that progress from the preliminary rounds advancing to the group stage.
A total of 61 clubs entered this season’s CAF Champions League, with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance Sportive de Tunis and RS Berkane receiving byes into the second preliminary round.
Medeama face a difficult opening assignment against TP Mazembe, who have won Africa’s premier club competition five times.
The winner of the tie will face either Tunisia‘s Club Africain or Mali‘s Djoliba AC in the second preliminary round.
Ogarbor’s appointment gives him an opportunity to officiate at the continental level after earning the confidence of CAF for a high-profile Champions League fixture.
The assignment comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s declining presence among the continent’s leading refereeing nations in recent years.
Nigerian match officials have missed several major international competitions amid concerns surrounding the standard of domestic football, referee development, fitness, assessment, facilities and the limited exposure officials receive to high-level matches.
The quality and organisation of domestic competitions have also remained an issue, with inconsistent standards, pressure surrounding officiating and limited access to modern refereeing technology affecting the environment in which Nigerian officials operate.
Those challenges have made it increasingly difficult for referees to consistently meet the fitness, technical and performance standards required to secure places at major CAF and FIFA tournaments.