Super Eagles Get Controversial Ref for Congo Clash

Egyptian referee Ghead Zaglol Grisha has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate the crucial African Cup of Nations qualifying match between Congo and Nigeria on November 11 in Pointe Noire.

Grisha will be assisted by compatriots Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer and Ahmed Abou Elela, who will be assisting him along the bylines on match-day, while Mahmoud Ashor – also from Egypt – will be the fourth official.

The Super Eagles currently lie third in their qualifying group and must win at Congo to keep alive hope of reaching the 2015 Nations Cup, tentatively in Morocco, to defend the African title.

It would be recalled that Ghead Grisha awarded Zambia a controversial late penalty against Nigeria during a group stage match at the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, resulting in a 1-1 draw at the time.

That decision led to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) claiming the Egyptian official had been suspended from the competition following an appeal, though Ghead Grisha was fourth official at another group stage match days later.