Promising referees from the Catch Them Young Refereeing policy have been named to participate in the FIFA Member Association (MA) Young Talent Refereeing Course scheduled to take place from July 23-28, 2026.
The course forms part of FIFA’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of elite match officials and strengthening refereeing standards across its member associations. It is specifically designed to identify, train, and prepare promising young referees for higher levels of officiating, with a pathway towards CAF and FIFA international badges.
The six-day programme which will take place at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence will be led by renowned FIFA instructors Essameldin Abdelfattah Hassan Abdelhamid of Egypt, who will serve as Technical Instructor, and Boubakar Hannachi of Tunisia, who has been appointed as Physical Instructor.
The FIFA MA Young Talent Course is a specialized capacity-building initiative that focuses on the technical, tactical, physical, and psychological aspects of modern refereeing. Through a combination of classroom sessions, practical exercises, fitness assessments, match analysis, and field training, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to excel at the highest levels of the game.
The selected referees, who are part of the GFA’s Catch Them Young Referees Programme, represent some of the most promising officiating talents in the country. Their participation underscores the Association’s commitment to creating a sustainable talent pipeline and ensuring that Ghana continues to produce referees capable of competing on the continental and global stages.
The course is expected to provide participants with invaluable exposure to FIFA’s latest refereeing standards, interpretations of the Laws of the Game, positioning and movement techniques, match management strategies, and fitness requirements for elite officials.
The GFA has in recent years invested heavily in referee development through various FIFA and CAF-supported initiatives, resulting in the emergence of several Ghanaian referees on the international scene. The FIFA MA Young Talent Course is expected to further strengthen these efforts by providing a structured pathway for young officials to advance their careers.
At the end of the programme, participants will have gained enhanced technical competence, improved physical conditioning, and a deeper understanding of modern football officiating, positioning them for future opportunities at both domestic and international levels.
The Ghana Football Association remains committed to nurturing young refereeing talents and ensuring that Ghana continues to be represented by high-performing match officials on the African continent and beyond.
Below is the list of Catch Them Young Referees named for the FIFA MA Young Talent Course:
