CAF’s 2016 Referee of the Year, Papa Bakary Gassama of Gambia has been handed the tough Afcon semi final clash pitting Cameroon against Ghana in Franceville on today.
The 38-year-old Gambian referee has been named the best referee three times in a row and will not be a stranger to the top billed clash.
He was in charge of the Black Stars’ 1-0 loss to Egypt in their final Group D game in Port Gentil. He was also in charge of the 2015 AFCON final that saw Avram Grant’s men lose to Ivory Coast after a dramatic penalty shootout. So the Black Stars will be hoping to finally win a game under the gaze of Africa’s most famous Zebra.
Ghana was extremely unhappy with the officiating against Egypt and voiced their concerns openly after the game.
Gassama became a FIFA referee in 2007, and has over the last eight years proved to be one of the best referees in world football.
After refereeing in the 2012 Olympics in London, where he was the fourth official in the Gold Cup Match between eventual winners Mexico and Brazil, the Gambian officiated the Netherlands-Chile clash at the group phase of the 2014 World Cup.
Gassama is currently involved in his fourth consecutive African Cup of Nations finals.
