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Victor Gomes, Zakhele Siwela set for Cameroon, will officiate at AFCON

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Victor Gomes during the Nedbank Cup, Last 32. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Victor Gomes during the Nedbank Cup, Last 32. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Well-known South African football referee Victor Gomes and assistant referee Zakhele Siwela have been selected to officiate next year's African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

The two are scheduled to travel to Cameroon in the New Year with the tournament set to run from 9 January - 6 February.

According to SAFA's website, the duo will undergo a mandatory refresher course that has been organised prior to the tournament. The refresher course will take place from 3 January.

Gomes and Siwela will also undergo physical, theoretical and technical tests during the course - with other selected referees from the continent.

SAFA's chair of the Referees Committee Natasha Tsichlas praised SAFA and believes that they will make the country proud.

"The continuous appointment of our officials to oversee FIFA and CAF games is an indication that the continental and world football bodies have confidence in our officials. Over the years, SAFA has produced some world class officials and we continue to do so on constant basis," said Tsichlas.

"I would like to thank SAFA President Danny Jordaan, SAFA CEO and head of SAFA referees, Abdul Ebrahim for a sterling job they are doing in making sure South Africa continues to churn out excellent match officials.

"Good luck to both Gomes and Siwela. I am confident they will do the country proud as they have always done in the past."

Bafana Bafana ended third in their group and did not qualify for the 2022 tournament.

It is the fifth time, since Tunisia in 1994, that the South African senior men's team has failed to qualify for Africa's prestigious tournament. 

AFCON Draw

Group A: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cape Verde

Group B: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Malawi

Group C: Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon

Group D: Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau

Group E: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast

Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia

Note: Group winners and runners-up and the four best third-placed teams qualify for knockout stage

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