Douala to Host Pivotal UNIFFAC Referee Masterclass
A Four-Day Immersion in Excellence Set for Central African Officials!
From October 1st to 4th, 2025, the city of Douala, Cameroon, will become the epicenter of football development in Central Africa, hosting a crucial training camp for referees and assistant referees of the Union of Central African Football Federations (UNIFFAC). This intensive four-day session marks a strategic and ambitious step in the continuous pursuit of the world-class officiating that has characterized the zone for several years.
An Ambitious Curriculum: Charting the Path to Impeccable Performance
This meticulously crafted training program is designed to deliver maximum benefit to all participants. The objective is singular and clear: to equip UNIFFAC’s referees and assistants with every necessary tool to deliver flawless, unimpeachable performances in every match, whether at the national, regional, or continental level.
The curriculum is structured around several foundational pillars of elite officiating:
Real-World Application
Practical sessions conducted alongside players will allow officials to hone their skills under genuine match conditions.
Positional Mastery
Critical attention will be devoted to on-field positioning—the crucial element that dictates the ability to make accurate, split-second decisions.
The Art of Game Reading
This essential capacity to anticipate action, understand tactical dynamics, and proactively manage situations will be a central focus of instruction.
Athletic Prowess:
The physical dimension is paramount. A high-performing referee is fundamentally an athlete capable of matching the relentless pace and demands of modern football.
Match Management Diplomacy
Extensive focus will be placed on the subtle art of controlling a game—a blend of firm authority, skillful diplomacy, and psychological insight.
The theoretical component will see participants deeply explore essential and often complex topics, including tactical fouls, handball situations, and offside rules. A perfect grasp of these laws is indispensable to ensuring genuine sports equity on the pitch.
Meteoric Rise: UNIFFAC Refereeing’s Ascent Since 2019
Since 2019, refereeing within the UNIFFAC zone has experienced a spectacular, admirable progression. This remarkable evolution is not the result of chance but a testament to profound, methodological, and ambitious work driven by men and women devoted to achieving technical excellence.
The most dazzling evidence of this success lies in the statistics: numerous referees and assistant referees from the sub-region have been appointed to officiate the finals of Africa’s most prestigious competitions. This continental recognition underscores the exceptional quality and professionalism of the match officials trained and nurtured in the UNIFFAC zone.
Icons of the Whistle
Central African Figures on the World Stage
The pantheon of Central African officiating is rich with talents who have shone brightly on the continental and international scenes:
The Legendary Trio
Cameroonians Alioum Sidi, Mekouande Evaris, and Elvis Noupoue etched their names in history by officiating the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt, solidifying the region’s savoir-faire.
Female Excellence
Carine Atezambong Fomo represents the zenith of women’s officiating. This Cameroonian stands among the continent’s finest assistant referees, boasting an impressive list of accolades, including multiple finals for the African Women’s Champions League and the African Nations Championship (CHAN). Versatile and modern, she is also qualified as a VAR Assistant, demonstrating her adaptability to contemporary technology.
The New Guard
Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho added his name to the honour roll by recently taking charge of a CHAN final. Mefire Abdou Abdel, considered the rising star of Cameroonian refereeing, officiated the finals of both the 2025 U20 AFCON and the 2025 CHAN, confirming the successful generational renewal within the zone.
Global Ambassadors
Alhadji Allaou Mahamat of Chad carried the Central African flag high with his call-up by FIFA for the Club World Cup in the United States. He previously officiated the 2021 U20 AFCON final, proving his consistent performance at the highest level. Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo of the DRC perfectly illustrates UNIFFAC’s international reach, having been selected by FIFA for the Club World Cup, where he served as the fourth official in a major match between Los Angeles and Chelsea. His vast experience also includes multiple AFCON fixtures and a CHAN final.
René Daniel Louzaya & Kabene Olivier Safari: The Architects of Ascendancy
Behind this collective triumph stands a pivotal duo: René Daniel Louzaya from Congo-Brazzaville and Kabene Olivier Safari from the DRC. These two leaders from the UNIFFAC Referees Department are the true architects of this powerful rise in sub-regional officiating standards. Their enlightened leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in fostering Central African refereeing excellence.
By orchestrating this new masterclass in Douala, Louzaya and Safari reaffirm their commitment to maintaining this positive momentum and continuously elevating the professional standards of refereeing across the region. Their approach, laser-focused on continuous training and operational excellence, is yielding remarkable results and inspiring the next generation of officials.
Expertise That Transcends Continents
The expertise cultivated within the UNIFFAC zone is now in demand far beyond Central Africa’s borders. Former renowned referees like Mekouande Evaris and Evehe Divine Raphaël are now sought-after as international experts, tasked with training and promoting refereeing standards worldwide. This global recognition is the ultimate reward for their hard work and confirms that the UNIFFAC zone has become a gold standard reference in referee development.
A Future Secured in Black and White
The Douala training camp, scheduled for October 1-4, 2025, is another chapter in this success story. It represents a vital opportunity to reinforce the capabilities of referees and assistants, share the latest best practices, and prepare officials for the complex challenges of tomorrow’s game.
Refereeing, often overshadowed by the drama of players and coaches, remains the fundamental pillar of sports integrity. Without competent, passionate, and honest officials, football loses its essential spirit. The UNIFFAC zone has grasped this reality and continues to invest strategically in the training of its men and women in black, thereby guaranteeing the enduring quality and fairness of football in Central Africa.
