National Sports

Malawian refs continue to miss out at Afcon

For the umpteenth time, Malawian referees will not be part of the officiating personnel at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals edition in Cameroon next month.

It will mark 10 years since former assistant Fifa referee Moffat Champiti officiated at the African safari in 2012.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) yesterday released a list of 64 referees, including nine video assistant referees (VAR), that will officiate at the continental showpiece.

Malawi is among four countries out of 14 from the Council of Southern Africa Football Association (Cosafa) bloc whose referees have not been considered. The others are Zimbabwe, Namibia and e-Swatini, formerly Swaziland.

National Football Referees Association general secretary Chris Kalichelo said in an interview yesterday that the situation is disappointing.

He said: “It is unfortunate that we continue to be left out on the list to officiate at Afcon finals. But we have had some of our referees officiating in the qualifiers of the tournament.

“So, we hope that in the near future, our referees will be considered.”

Kalichelo also played down suggestions that it is something to do with performance at international level.

He said: “I don’t think so because if that was the case, then CAF should have been indicating in their reports.”

On his part, Champiti, who officiated at two successive Afcon finals before he retired, said Malawian referees cannot be considered because none of the male referees is in the Elite A category.

He said: “For one to be considered for tournaments such as Afcon, you have to be in the Elite A category, but we do have a few that are in Elite B.

“When a referee attains a Fifa badge that is when the assessment process starts. This is followed by courses and then you are assigned low-profile international matches. Slowly you move up the ladder to Elite B and then Elite A.

“So, it is a process which requires hard work, discipline and determination. But we have a number of promising referees such as Clemence Kanduku, who I am sure will make it with time.”

Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu said: “I believe it is performance-based, yet we have Fifa approved referees in Malawi.

“Given an opportunity, I have no doubt that our top match officials would impress. That said, this is a missed opportunity for our referees and probably a message that they need to acquire extraordinary skills and have the unique quality to pass the test.

“From what I have seen, there is nothing special on those that officiate at Afcon. They are all the same.”

Apart from Champiti, the other Malawian to have officiated at Afcon finals is the legendary Bester Kalombo.

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