Ghana is set to host leading FIFA refereeing experts later this month as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) welcomes the FIFA Member Association (MA) Young Talent Refereeing Course at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
The six-day programme, scheduled for July 23 to July 28, forms part of FIFA’s global referee development initiative aimed at identifying and preparing promising young match officials for elite football.
The course will be facilitated by FIFA Technical Instructor Essameldin Abdelfattah Hassan Abdelhamid of Egypt and FIFA Physical Instructor Boubakar Hannachi of Tunisia, both of whom bring extensive international experience in referee education and development.
Participants have been selected from the GFA’s Catch Them Young Refereeing Programme, an initiative designed to nurture emerging referees and prepare them for higher levels of officiating.
During the course, the young officials will undergo intensive training covering the latest interpretations of the Laws of the Game, positioning and movement, match management, decision-making, communication, and physical conditioning.
The programme will combine classroom instruction with practical field sessions, fitness testing, video analysis, and match simulations to equip participants with the technical knowledge, confidence, and professionalism required to officiate at the highest levels.
The Ghana Football Association has made referee development a strategic priority in recent years, working closely with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to improve officiating standards and create pathways for Ghanaian referees to earn appointments at continental and international competitions.
Hosting the FIFA MA Young Talent Refereeing Course represents another significant milestone in that effort, providing participants with direct access to FIFA’s latest refereeing philosophies, global best practices, and mentorship from world-class instructors.
The programme is expected to strengthen Ghana’s refereeing talent pipeline while enhancing the prospects of young officials seeking opportunities on the African and international football stage.
