ESWATINI REFS OUT OF CHAN
MBABANE – Local match officials are notably absent from the list of those invited to the 2025 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has recently unveiled the roster of match officials selected for the preparatory course ahead of the 2024 TotalEnergies CHAN. This list comprises 25 centre referees, 22 assistants, seven Video Assistant Referees (VAR) and four CAF officials. Unfortunately, no representatives from the kingdom have received invitations. The preparatory course is set to take place from December 4 to 9, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt. In previous editions, the kingdom has been represented by esteemed officials such as Gilbert Dlamini, who participated in last season’s CAF Super League, and VAR specialist Letticia Viana, who is currently engaged with the CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco.
Within the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) region, officials from nations including South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana have been selected for this opportunity. It is crucial to highlight that CAF also appoints local referees for significant tournaments such as the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), alongside the Champions League and Confederation Cups. CAF has articulated that the upcoming course aims to equip referees from throughout the continent with updated knowledge and practical training on the latest rules and advancements in refereeing technology.
This workshop serves as a final qualifying step, with successful participants expected to be appointed to officiate at the CHAN tournament in Kenya, scheduled for February 2025.
Meanwhile, the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Officer, Muzi Radebe, was unavailable for comment yesterday. It is worth noting that such opportunities do not only provide invaluable experience and exposure, but also come with lucrative incentives of about E20 000 per match.
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