Ugandan Referees Handed Key Role In Senegal vs Mali AFCON U17 Clash

CAF Appoints Ugandan Match Officials For AFCON U17 Quarter-Final Duty

The Confederation of African Football has appointed two Ugandan match officials to take charge of one of the headline quarter-final ties at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. FIFA-certified referee Lucky Razake Kasalirwe and assistant referee Brianson Musisi will be on duty when Senegal face Mali at the Rabat Complex Mohammed VI on 24 May 2026. The appointment places Ugandan officiating firmly in the spotlight at a crucial knockout stage of Africa’s premier youth tournament.

Kasalirwe Lucky Razake- Credit to Kamira

Kasalirwe has been designated as the centre referee for the West African clash, with Zambia’s Nancy Kasitu serving as the first assistant and Musisi completing the team as the second assistant. Liberia’s Emmanuel Mensah will act as the fourth official, while Djibouti’s Robleh Dirir Eleyah Robleh is named reserve assistant referee. The match is one of four quarter-finals scheduled for the day in Morocco, with the other ties pitting Ivory Coast against Egypt, hosts Morocco against Cameroon, and Tanzania against Algeria. The appointments were confirmed in an official CAF communication listing the full match officials and coordinators for the game.

For Ugandan match officials, this double appointment is more than a routine assignment. It signals growing recognition of Uganda’s refereeing standards on the continent and provides direct exposure to high-pressure knockout football at youth level. Refereeing a Senegal-Mali quarter-final means handling two of West Africa’s strongest youth sides in a match where the margin for error is slim and the scrutiny is high. For Kasalirwe and Musisi, it is a chance to demonstrate consistency, game management, and decision-making that could open doors to senior AFCON tournaments, CHAN, and FIFA youth World Cups.

Assistant Referee- Musisi Brianson

The selection also reflects positively on the Federation of Uganda Football Associations’ refereeing development programs and offers inspiration to younger Ugandan officials coming through the ranks. Seeing two of their own entrusted with a decisive AFCON U17 fixture reinforces that Ugandan referees can compete and be trusted at the highest levels of African football. As the tournament moves into its business end, all eyes will be on Rabat, and for Uganda’s refereeing fraternity, it is a moment of pride and validation.