The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has selected four Moroccan officials for its elite refereeing course, scheduled to take place in Cairo from November 18 to 23.
Morocco will be represented by referees Jalal Jayed and Mustapha Kech Chaf, along with VAR officials Hamza El Fariq and Zakaria Bouchtaoui.
CAF has selected 35 Category A officials for the course, which will prepare them for the group stages of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, set to begin between November 27 and 29. Another 15 officials will receive specialized training in video assistant refereeing (VAR), which will be introduced for the first time at the group stage of both competitions this season.
The four Moroccan representatives have international experience at different levels.
Jalal Jayed, an international referee since 2019, officiated at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before being selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mustapha Kech Chaf, an international referee since 2021, also took part in the 2025 AFCON.
Among the VAR officials, Hamza El Fariq, an international official since 2023, was selected for both the 2025 AFCON and the 2026 World Cup. Zakaria Bouchtaoui, an international assistant referee since 2024, is listed in the 2026 FIFA register.
The course will help the selected officials prepare for upcoming continental competitions, as VAR is set to make its debut at the group stage of Africa’s two leading club tournaments.
