World Cup 2018: Egyptian and Gambian to officiate Nigeria's double header against Cameroon

Tobi Adesina

The football governing body, FIFA have released a list of Center referees and assistant to officiate Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers (African series).

Ghead Grisha, an Egyptian referee has been picked by FIFA as the center referee for Super eagle's crucial home encounter with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Uyo, slated for September 1. The 41-year old Egyptian was in center of action in a game that saw Nigeria defeat Zambia 2-1 in Ndola. He will be assisted by Redouane Achik(Morocco), Waleed Ahmed Ali(Sudan), Mahmoud Zakaria(Egypt).

Meanwhile, Bakary Papa Gassama will hold fort in the return leg in Yaounde 3days later. The Gambian referee will be assisted by Jean Claude Birumushashu(Burundi), Aden Marwa Range(Kenya) and Maudo Jallo(Gambia).

Nigeria(6) currently sit top of group B table, four points clear of 2nd, Cameroon(2) while Algeria(1) and Zambia(1) are playing catchup.

CAMEROON 2019 AFCON QUALIFIER DRAW UNVEILS

The qualifying draw for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations has pitted several former champions against one another.

Number one ranked team in Africa at the moment, Senegal will face off with Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and the winner between Sao Tome and Principe and Madagascar in Group A. 4-time champion Cameroon, who qualify automatically as the host are in Group B alongside 1976 champions Morocco, Malawi and either Comoros or Mauritius.

Record 7-time winners Egypt will meet North African rivals Tunisia, who won in 2004, in Group J. 3-time winners, Super Eagles of Nigeria will also face Bafana Bafana of South Africa who were 1996 winner in Group E.

Group G also features a clash between Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with both sides having previously lifted the trophy.

In addition to hosts Cameroon, the 12 group winners will qualify alongside the the 3 best runners-up.

Here is the draw in full:

Group A: Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Sao Tome/Madagascar

Group B: Cameroon, Morocco, Malawi, Comoros/Mauritius

Group C: Mali, Gabon, Burundi, Djibouti/South Sudan

Group D: Algeria, Togo, Benin, The Gambia

Group E: Nigeria, South Africa, Libya, Seychelles

Group F: Ghana, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya

Group G: DR Congo, Congo, Zimbabwe, Liberia

Group H: Ivory Coast, Guinea, Central African Republic, Rwanda

Group I: Burkina Faso, Angola, Botswana, Mauritania

Group J: Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Swaziland

Group K: Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia

Group L: Cape Verde, Uganda, Tanzania, Lesotho

The qualifier will kick off in June 2017 and rounds up in November 2018.