Nigerian Ojeleye John Tope receives his second assignment in the AFCON futsal and will officiate the clash between Mozambique and Tanzania tonight

Nigerian FIFA futsal referee Ojeleye John Tope has landed another refereeing assignment at the 2026 African Futsal Cup of Nations in Morocco, with the Lagos-based referee set to act as second referee in Saturday’s match between Mozambique and Tanzania.

The match, scheduled for 9pm on October 17, will mark Ojeleye’s second appearance in the continental championship, following his involvement in Tanzania’s 6-0 loss to Angola in their first match.

The latest appointment represents another important milestone for the Nigerian official, who continues to gain valuable experience on the African stage.

Ojeleye earned his place among the tournament officials after successfully completing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) pre-tournament fitness tests in Morocco.

He passed the assessments alongside fellow Nigerian referee Bello Al Hassan Zuru, with both referees meeting the required standards following intensive training and rigorous assessments.

Announcing their achievement earlier, the duo expressed their pride in representing Nigeria in the continental tournament.

“This achievement reflects our dedication, discipline, commitment to excellence and determination to represent Nigeria with honor on the continental stage,” they stated.

Ojeleye, who earned his FIFA futsal badge in 2025 and retained it in 2026, has continued to build his international referee profile through continental assignments.

His appointment as second referee for the Mozambique-Tanzania match provides another opportunity to demonstrate his understanding of the game, his decision-making ability and his professionalism.

Nigerian officials had previously committed to maintaining the highest standards throughout the championship.

“We are grateful for this opportunity and hope to contribute to the success of the tournament through professionalism, fairness and excellence in refereeing,” they declared.

With his first mission completed, attention now turns to Ojeleye’s performance in Saturday’s match.

The consecutive appointments underline Ojeleye’s growing involvement in continental futsal refereeing and provide another opportunity for Nigerian refereeing to gain recognition at the international level.