Ethiopian referee Tewodros Mitiku will officiate Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29, Bold Sports reports.
The Group L fixture will take place at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau. Both nations enter the match after winning their opening qualifiers. Guinea-Bissau currently lead the group on goal difference.
Mitiku will lead an all-Ethiopian refereeing team in the second-round fixture. Fasika Biru Fasika will serve as the first assistant referee. Tigle Belachew has been appointed as the second assistant referee.
Manuhe Woldetsadik will complete the Ethiopian team as the fourth official.
CAF has also named Senegal’s Yaya Balde as the match commissioner. Former Gambian referee Papa Bakary Gassama will serve as the referee assessor.
Mitiku has held international referee status since 2018. Belachew has served as an international assistant referee since 2012. Woldetsadik became a FIFA-listed referee in 2022.
The appointment also gives Mitiku another assignment involving Nigerian football.
The Ethiopian previously worked as fourth official when Nigeria faced Benin Republic in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Abidjan in June 2024. Bamlak Tessema, another Ethiopian referee, handled the match as the centre official.
Nigeria opened their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Madagascar in Uyo.
Ehsan Kari put Madagascar ahead before George Ilenikhena equalised on his senior international debut. Moses Usor then scored the winning goal after the break.
Guinea-Bissau also collected three points in their opening fixture. The Djurtus defeated Tanzania 2-0 away from home.
That result placed Guinea-Bissau above Nigeria on goal difference ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
The result in Bissau will therefore have an immediate impact on the early Group L standings.
Nigeria will look to maintain their winning start under head coach Éric Chelle. The Super Eagles arrived in Bissau ahead of the encounter after preparing for their second qualifier.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, with both teams entering the contest on three points.
More Read
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
