BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Eswatini referee Leticia Viana continues to elevate the nation’s profile on the international football stage after being appointed among the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The highly anticipated final between hosts Morocco and defending champions Senegal will be played on Sunday, 18 January 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 GMT, bringing Africa’s premier football competition to an exciting conclusion.
Viana is among nine elite match officials selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate the tournament’s showpiece encounter. According to CAF, experienced Democratic Republic of Congo referee Jean Jacques Ndala has been appointed to take charge of the final, marking a symbolic journey after officiating the tournament’s opening match.
A FIFA-listed referee since 2013, Ndala is widely respected for his composure, authority and consistency in high-pressure matches. AFCON Morocco 2025 marks his fourth Africa Cup of Nations appearance, having previously officiated at the 2019, 2021 and 2023 editions.
CAF has assembled a seasoned multinational officiating team for the final, reinforcing its commitment to neutrality, technical excellence and match control.
Match Officials – AFCON 2025 Final
Referee
• Jean Jacques Ndala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Assistant Referees
• Guylain Bongele Ngila (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Gradel Mwanya Mbilizi (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Styven Moutsassi Moyo (Republic of Congo)
Fourth Official
• Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Team
• VAR: Pierre Ghislain Atcho (Gabon)
• Assistant VAR 1: Leticia Viana (Eswatini)
• Assistant VAR 2: Stephane Eleazar Yiembé (Congo)
Referee Assessor
• René Daniel Louzaya (Republic of Congo)
The carefully selected officiating lineup reflects CAF’s focus on accuracy, transparency and fairness at the decisive stage of the competition.
Viana’s appointment to the AFCON final adds to her growing list of international achievements. Earlier this month, Eswatini Positive News reported that she was selected among 26 elite Video Match Officials worldwide to attend the FIFA Video Match Official Seminar 2026 in Doha, Qatar, from 3 to 5 February.
Since becoming a FIFA-listed international referee in 2015, Viana has officiated at several major tournaments, including the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the 2018 AFCON in Ghana, and the 2022 AFCON in Morocco. She also served as a Video Referee at the 2022 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.
Her continued rise is widely viewed as a testament to professionalism, technical excellence and dedication, while also highlighting Eswatini’s growing contribution to elite football officiating.
As AFCON 2025 reaches its climax in Rabat, Leticia Viana’s presence at the final stands as a proud milestone for Eswatini football and a powerful inspiration to aspiring referees across the continent.
