The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a list of 76 match officials who will participate in a training camp in Egypt ahead of the group stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

The programme is part of CAF’s preparations for the next phase of its two major club competitions, where participating teams will compete for continental honours. The training is expected to help officials prepare for the demands of the group-stage matches and maintain the standards required for African football’s biggest club tournaments.

Three South Africans have been included among the 76 selected participants, giving the country representation at the important officiating programme.

Their selection also highlights South Africa’s presence in African football administration, particularly in the area of match officiating. Being part of the training camp provides the selected officials with an opportunity to improve their knowledge, review important refereeing procedures and prepare for the challenges associated with continental competitions.

The Champions League and Confederation Cup group stages usually involve clubs from different footballing backgrounds, making consistency in officiating particularly important. Officials are expected to understand CAF regulations and apply the laws of the game effectively during matches.

The Egyptian camp will therefore serve as an important preparation exercise before the competitions move into their group-stage phase.

For the three South Africans, the invitation represents an opportunity to gain further experience at continental level. Their participation will also attract attention from local football followers, who will be interested in seeing whether they receive appointments for matches during the upcoming stages.

CAF’s decision to bring together 76 officials reflects the importance of preparation as African club football enters another demanding phase.

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