CAF appoints CAR referee for Nations FC’s 2026/27 Confederation Cup tie

CAF has appointed Central African Republic official Merveil Melvin Mandekouzou-Vendafara as the referee for the 2026/27 Confederation Cup preliminary-round first leg between FC Diarra and Nations FC. The match will be played on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako.

Mandekouzou-Vendafara will be supported by Cameroonian assistant referee Odrigue Menye Mpele and Central African Republic assistant referee Elchior Telesphore Omokozoyen. Aime Landry Belly de Sombozo, also from the Central African Republic, has been selected as the fourth official.

Tunisia’s Belhassen Bessamra will serve as match commissioner, while Guinea’s Oulera Daloba has been appointed referees assessor for the fixture. The appointments give the opening leg an officiating team drawn from four countries.

Nations FC will travel to Mali for the first match of its preliminary-stage campaign, with the Ghanaian club aiming to secure a favourable position before the return fixture. FC Diarra will have home advantage at Stade Mamadou Konaté as both clubs begin their route into the Confederation Cup proper.

Mali’s recent international form has been mixed. The country has not won any of its last five listed matches, recording two defeats and three draws. Those results include a 2-0 loss to Iran, a goalless draw away to Russia, a 1-0 defeat against Senegal, a 1-1 draw with Tunisia and a 0-0 draw in Comoros.

Mali also finished second in its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group with three points from three matches. The record was three draws and no wins or defeats, with two goals scored and two conceded. That record provides the wider form context for FC Diarra’s home assignment, although Nations FC’s immediate objective is to leave Bamako with an advantage for the second leg.