CAF executive committee member Hani Abou-Reida denied allegations that Issa Hayatou interfered in the appointment of Coffi Codjia as a referee for the Nations Cup final. Reports indicated that Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi will officiate Egypt's clash against Cameroon in CAN final on Sunday. However, Beninese veteran official Codjia has been appointed to take charge of the highly anticipated encounter. To put any doubts to bed, Abou-Reida was quick to firmly deny any rumors of favoritism from CAF president Hayatou, who is Cameroonian. "Hayatou never interferes in the work of the sub-committees," Abou-Reida told reporters on Saturday. "Hayatou and all executive committee members didn't know who will be charge of the final until Codjia's name was officially announced." The 40-year-old Codjia refereed Egypt's 3-0 victory over Sudan in the first-round. He will referee CAN final for the first time since beginning work in Africa's showpiece in 2000.
