FIFA names 24 Cameroonian match officials for 2026 calendar.

Cameroon’s contingent of 24 representatives sees the country consolidating the similar 24-man strong lineup that it fielded for the 2025 calendar which was marked mainly by the FIFA Club World Cup, the Under20 World Cup and the Under18 Women’s World Cup tournaments. 

This is despite the changes in terms of the personnel that make up the 2026 list when compared to the 2025 lineup.

The 2026 class includes 11 central referees, eight assistant referees, two video match officials and three futsal referees.

The group is headlined by central referee Effa Antoine and assistant referees Carine Atezambong and Elvis Noupue. 

Effa Antoine is the oldest serving FIFA referee among the Cameroonians on the lineup.

The 42-year-old secured his FIFA refereeing badge in 2013. He has since been one of Cameroon’s most respected football match officials.

Noupue also secured his FIFA refereeing badge in 2013. He has since been celebrated internationally as one of the most outstanding football match officials globally. 

He claimed the distinction of the best assistant referee during the 2024 CAF Awards organized by the Confederation of African Football, CAF.

Atezambong became a FIFA referee in 2014 after claiming her badge from the world football governing body. 

Noupue and Atezambong are currently officiating at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. 

Both officials have been named in the 2026 line up as assistant referees and video match officials, the only Cameroonians to secure the double tasks on the line up. 

Eight newcomers 

The 2026 class includes eight referees who are making their debuts as FIFA-accredited match officials.

The newcomers include famed futsal referee Mekoa Marie Laure and assistant referees Yeppe Rebecca Prisca and Mpande Mpondou Gerard.

Newcomer central referees include the female pair of Ntui Ayuk Priscilla and Njih Mafaintchi Vial Claire.

Ngwa Blaise potential biggest exit

One of the biggest names that has failed to make the cut for the 2026 lineup is famed central referee, Ngwa Blaise Yuven.

The native of the North West Region bagged his FIFA badge in 2017 and has since been one of the major standout officials from across the continental.

The match official who recently officiated the final of the 2025 AFCON between Panther of Nde and South Region selection, Colombe, handled matches as central referee during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon in 2022. 

Among them, the group stage fixture between subsequent tournament champions, the Teranga Lions of Senegal and the Flames of Malawi. 

The major international FIFA-sanctioned event in 2026 will be the 48-nation 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled for the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3665 of Tuesday January 06, 2026