A referee who officiated at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has revealed what CAF president Patrice Motsepe told him about his performance at the continental showpiece.
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The latest AFCON has been lauded by many as one of football's greatest tournament spectacles.
The goals and the drama the tournament provided captivated the world, but perhaps an aspect of the competition some did not expect to be at a world-class level was the refereeing.
Many have given African football massive credit for the standards of officiating at the continental showpiece, and it was Egyptian referee Amin Omar who seemingly set a precedent in the AFCON's opening match, when eventual champions Ivory Coast took on Guinea-Bissau in a 2-0 victory, a job for which he has now revealed he received plaudits from Motsepe.
"The first reaction after the match was from the president of the African Confederation, Patrice Motsepe," Omar told Channel One. "He came to our room after the match and said, 'I am proud of you.' This was the reason why all the referees looked good."
Omar went on to reveal that his countryman Mohamed Salah also congratulated him for his display in the showpiece's opener.
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"I was surprised by a call from captain Mohamed Salah after the match," he added.
"He was thanking the entire refereeing crew. He said to me, 'You honoured us, and we are proud of you and the entire Egyptian crew, and God willing, you will continue to do so.'"
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