Kenya’s Stephen Yiembe to officiate AFCON 2025 final
By Mustafa Juma, January 18, 2026Kenya’s Stephen Eleazer Yiembe will be part of the nine-match officials for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final pitting Senegal against Morocco on the night of Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Yiembe, who has served as an assistant in various group stage and knockout round matches, will now be on VAR duty during the final at the iconic Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.
He is set to officiate the match as the Assistant VAR 2.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF), in a statement shared via X on Sunday, just hours before the high-stakes match, congratulated Yiembe for being part of the officials for the match that will need the referees to be spot on.
“Congratulations to our referee Stephen Yiembe, who will be officiating the #AFCON2025 final as the Assistant VAR 2,” FKF stated.
AFCON 2025 match officials
The AFCON 2025 final match will be officiated by a Congolese trio, Jean Jacques Ngambo Ndala, who will be in action as the centre referee, and Guylain Bongele Ngila, who will be Ndala’s assistant alongside Gradel Mwanya Mbilizi, with Guinean Styven Moutsassasi Moyo as the fourth official.
South African Abongile Tom will lead the VAR crew that includes Yiembe and also includes Pierre Atcho from Gabon and Leticcia Viana.
Morocco will be looking to win their second AFCON title, 50 years after winning their first crown in 1976, and there is extra pressure given they are the hosts, while Senegal are looking to reclaim it after lifting the crown in 2021.
Kenyan officials at AFCON 2025
Yiembe was among four Kenyan referees selected for AFCON 2025 alongside Peter Waeru Kamaku, Dickens Mimisa, and Gilbert Cheruiyot.
He has worked on a number of top games at the tournament, including the group stage match between Angola and South Africa, as well as the game between Angola and Zimbabwe.
During the round of 16, Kamaku led a team of Kenyan referees tasked with officiating a clash pitting Cameroon against South Africa on January 4, 2025, in Morocco.
Kamaku was assisted by Gilbert Cheruiyot and Stephen Eleazer Yiembe as the two match assistant referees.