Kenyan referees will take charge of the highly-anticipated final between hosts Morocco and defending champions Egypt in the CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.

Peter Kamaku Waweru has been appointed as the centre referee for the final, while Stephen Onyango Yiembe will serve as the first assistant referee.

AFCON U23 refs

Togo’s Jonathan Ahonto Koffi and Somalia’s Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be the second assistant referee and fourth official, respectively. Burundi’s Jean Claude Birumushahu will also be involved in the match.

Waweru, born on 27 May 1982, is a distinguished Kenyan football referee, academic administrator, and researcher.

He has been officiating in the Kenyan Premier League since 2013 and became a FIFA-listed referee in 2017.

Alongside his refereeing career, Waweru serves as a professor of pure mathematics at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.

Waweru’s journey as a referee began in 2011 when he started officiating matches in the lower leagues of Kenya.

He steadily climbed the ranks and joined the Kenyan Premier League in 2013. His exceptional skills and professionalism earned him recognition, and in 2017, he was listed as a FIFA referee.

Throughout his career, Waweru has had the privilege of officiating in prestigious FIFA tournaments.

He was appointed as a referee for the AFCON U20 in 2019, the AFCON 2019 in Egypt, the 2019 U17 World Cup in Brazil, and the 2021 CHAN, where he officiated the CHAN finals.

Waweru in AFCON events

Waweru has also been entrusted with officiating numerous CAF Champions League games, Confederation Cup matches, and FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

Waweru’s remarkable skills and consistent performance led to his selection as one of the referees for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February 2022.

This prestigious appointment further solidified his reputation as one of Africa’s top referees.

In addition to his refereeing career, Waweru maintains an academic presence as a professor of pure mathematics. His dedication to both his academic and refereeing pursuits highlights his commitment to excellence in various aspects of his life.

Excitement is building as the U23 football teams of Morocco and Egypt prepare to face each other in the highly-anticipated final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

The Moroccan team will enjoy the support of their passionate home fans as they aim to make history in the tournament.

Throughout the competition, Morocco has showcased an impressive performance, remaining unbeaten with three convincing victories and a thrilling penalty shootout win against Mali in the semifinals.

The team has displayed a strong determination and resilience, and they will be eager to secure the AFCON title on home soil.

Both Morocco and Egypt have already secured their qualification for the Paris Olympic Games, adding to the significance of the final.

Egypt, as the defending champions, will be determined to retain the Cup, while Morocco seeks to etch their name in football history by lifting the AFCON trophy.