FIFA have appointed an all-Senegalese officiating team to handle the opening Group C clash between Bayern Munich and Auckland City at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The match is scheduled for Sunday, June 15, 2025, at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Issa Sy will serve as the central referee, with Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura running the lines.
The experienced trio from Senegal will be tasked with overseeing a match that promises to be a major test of willpower, pride, and pedigree.
The fixture pits European royalty against Oceania’s perennial champions in what many seem as a David-versus-Goliath encounter.
Bayern Munich, winners of multiple UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga titles, enter the revamped Club World Cup as one of the clear favourites.
On the opposite end, Auckland City, the pride of New Zealand, arrive in the US as determined underdogs.
The Navy Blues, reigning OFC Champions League winners, are composed largely of part-time players.
Placed in a daunting group alongside Bayern, Portuguese giants Benfica, and Argentine heavyweights Boca Juniors, Auckland City face a mammoth task to make any significant impact.
But their spirit, coupled with the unpredictability of tournament football, means the opening match won’t be taken lightly, even by a club as powerful as Bayern.
The appointment of the Senegalese refereeing crew underscores FIFA’s commitment to global representation at the tournament, offering elite officials from across all confederations the chance to shine on the world stage.
FKA/AE
Meanwhile, watch the latest edition of Sports Check with former Hearts of Oak midfielder Frederick Ansah Botchway
