The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the match officials expected to take charge of the 2022 AFCON tournament in Cameroun.
The list consists of 24 referees, 31 assistant referees and eight video assistant referees from 36 countries.
Woman quartet, Salima Mukasanga (Rwanda), Carine Atemzabong (Cameroon), Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco) and Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco) continue the path started at the U-17 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2019 and TotalEnergies African Nations Championship 2020 (CHAN), with women referees officiating games.
Eddy Maillet, CAF Director of Refereeing listed the criteria for the selection.
“The match officials were selected based on their experience, skills and current form. In recent months, they have been subjected to several aptitude tests through preparation courses and real competitive matches,” he said.
“Only the best will officiate at this extraordinary event. The roster includes two referees from the CONCACAF as part of our inter-confederation skills exchange program.”
All the selected match officials will complete their final preparations in Cameroon the week before the opening game.
They will be closely monitored before and during the competition by a team of technical specialists and instructors.
The tournament will kick off on Sunday, 09 January 2022 with the match between hosts, Cameroon and Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde.
Squad announcement
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe and Guinea have revealed the names of their provisional squad members ahead of Cameroun 2022.
Zimbabwean coach Norman Mapeza made several changes from the team that competed in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Ethiopia.
The obvious absentee was Khama Billiat who announced his retirement from international football in November, a day after the Warriors completed their World Cup qualifiers campaign.
Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, Tawanda Maswanhise of Leicester City, Marshal Munetsi who plays for Stade de Reims and Wigan Athletic’s Tendayi Darikwa have also been omitted from the squad through injuries, while captain Knowledge Musona returns to lead the team.
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The Warriors will be playing in Group B of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations where they are pitted against Senegal, Guinea and fellow COSAFA region side Malawi.
Zimbabwe will open their campaign against The Teranga Lions Senegal on January 10 at the Bafoussam Omnisport Stadium.
On the other hand, Guinea have included several young players who have started to make a name for themselves in the European championships.
Newly appointed coach Kaba Diawara recalled 27 players, led by captain Naby Keïta.
Among these new faces is Mohamed Bayo, who scored 9 goals in 15 games for French Ligue 1 side Clermont Foot.
Another young face is Moriba Kourouma, former young Spanish international.
The young midfielder trained at FC Barcelona academy “La Masia” and joined German side RB Leipzig at the start of the season. Kourouma declared his desire to defend the colors of his parents’ country.
Guinea will later arrive in Bafoussam (Cameroon) on January 7, to start their TotalEnergies AFCON 2021 campaign, where they play in Group B with Senegal, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
FULL SQUAD LISTS
Zimbabwe
Goalkeepers: Petros Mhari (FC Platinum), Martin Mapis (FC Zamora), Talbert Shumba (Free State Stars), Taimon Mvula (Dynamos)
Defenders: Peter Muduwa (Highlanders), Alec Mudimu (Torpedo Kutaisi), TakudzwaChimwemwe (Nkana), Jordan Zemura (AFC Bournemouth), Tapiwa Sibanda (Cranborne), Godkknows Muriwa, Frank Makarati (Dynamos), Gerald Takwara (Venda Football Academy), Tenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo), Bruce Kangwa (Azam), Onismor Bhasera (Supersport United)
Midfielders: Temptation Chiwunga (JDR Stars), Kelvin Madzongwe (FC Platinum), Bill Antonio (Dynamos), Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco United), Never Tigere (Azam), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Supersport United), Shepherd Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Ishmael Wadi (JDR Stars), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (FC Platinum)
Forwards: Admiral Muskwe (Luton Town), Knox Mutizwa (Golden Arrows), Prince Dube (Azam), David Moyo (Hamilton Academical), Knowledge Musona (Al Tai), Tinotenda Kadewere (Olympique Lyonnais)
Guinea
Goalkeepers: Aly Kéita (Östersund / Sweden), Ibrahima Koné (Hibernians PC Paola / Malta), Moussa Camara (Horoya AC / Guinea)
Defenders: Issiaga Sylla (Toulouse FC / France), Pa Konaté (Botev Plovdiv / Bulgaria), Saidou Sow (AS Saint-Étienne / France), Ibrahima Sory Conté (Niort / France), Florentin Pogba (Sochaux / France), Mohamed Aly Camara (Young Boys from Berne / Switzerland), Ousmane Kanté (Paris FC / France), Mickael Dyrestam (AD Xanthi / Greece), Antoine Conté (CS Universitatea Craiova / Romania)
Midfielders: Amadou Diawara (AS Roma / Italy), Ibrahima Cissé (RFC Seraing / Belgium), Mory Konaté (Sint-Truiden / Belgium), Moriba Kourouma (RB Leipzig / Germany), Mamadou Kané (Neftchi Baku / Azerbaijan), Morlaye Sylla (Horoya AC / Guinea), Aguibou Camara (Olympiacos / Greece), Naby Kéita (Liverpool / England), Ibrahima Sory Conté Maibra (Bnei Sakhnin FC / Israel)
Forwards: Seydouba Soumah (Al Kuwait SC / Kuwait), Morgan Guilavogui (Paris FC / France), Lamarana Diallo (Grenoble / France), Martinez Kanté (FC Kairat Almaty / Kazakhstan), Mohamed Bayo (Clermont / France), Sory Kaba (OH Louvain / Belgium)
