Pierre Ghislain Atcho, from Gabon, will be the main referee for the match between the Mozambique and Uganda national soccer teams to be held on March 20 at the Cairo International Stadium in the Egyptian capital..

The match is part of the fifth round of Group "B" in the African qualifying zone for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in Canada, the United States of America and Mexico.

According to a Challenge newspaperBoris Marlaise Ditsoga, also from Gabon, will act as first assistant, assisted by Cameroon's Carine Atezambong Fomo (second assistant), while Fleury Moukagni (Gabon) will be the fourth official.

On Thursday (06), in a press release, the FMF board confirmed that the match would be held in Cairo, after the Zimpeto National Stadium was rejected by the Confederation of African Football due to the condition of the pitch, toilets and lighting.

The FMF has indicated that the Cairo solution is more appropriate to guarantee the sporting success of the "Mambas" at this crucial stage of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Meanwhile, in the league table, Algeria and Mozambique share the lead with nine points each, followed by the trio of Botswana, Uganda and Guinea Conakry, all on six points, in a group where Somalia has yet to score a point.

The regulations state that only the winner of each of the nine groups qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup. The four best runners-up will compete in a play-off, from which only the winner will qualify for a second play-off with representatives from other continents. The 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup will emerge from this final play-off.

(Photo DR)