World football governing body, FIFA, has made changes to the officiating team of the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between Benin Republic and Nigeria which is scheduled for the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Ivory Coast on Monday, 10 June.
The changes have sent packing Ethiopian official Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, who was originally designated as referee for the encounter scheduled to kick off at 4 pm. In his place, Gabonese official Pierre Ghislain Atcho will now be the referee.
Weyesa’s compatriots Temesgin Samuel Atango and Tigle Gizaw Belachew have been retained as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively.
Another Ethiopian, Tewodros Mitiku, earlier designated as the fourth official, has been thrown out, replaced by Cameroonian Antoine Max Effa Essouma.
The originally designated referee assessor, match commissioner and security officer retained their places in the encounter that comes up only three days after the Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
