Victor Gomes will be assisted by compatriots Zakhele Siwela, Lesotho’s Souru Phatshoane, and DR Congo’s Olivier Safari Kabene
By Kehinse Okeowo
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a referee from South Africa, Victor Gomes to be the centre referee of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The encounter between the seven time champions of AFCON, Egypt, and the highest ranked African side, Senegal will take place at the Yaounde-Stade Olembe in Cameroon on Sunday.
Victor Gomes will be assisted by fellow South African, Zakhele Siwela, Lesotho’s Souru Phatshoane, and DR Congo’s Olivier Safari Kabene.
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The 39-year-old South African was voted PSL Referee twice, in the 2012/2013 and 2017/2018 seasons and he has been an international referee since 2011.
He will be making history as the first South African referee to take charge of an AFCON final.
Gomes took charge of the Ivory Coast/Algeria game in Douala at the group stages and had a good game.
But all eyes will be on him in the final after Janny Sikazwe’s oddball showing in the Tunisia/Mali game set tongues wagging with regards to officiating.
Senegal secured passage to the final after beating fellow West African country, Burkina Faso 3-1. Their opponent, Egypt also won against hosts Cameroon after a penalty shoot-out in Yaounde.