Zambia’s Diana Chikotesha one of three female officials named for U23 AFCON

By Moses Mwanza | November 7, 2019

Zambia’s Female Referee Diana Chikotesha was included in the 25-man list of match officials which consists of 12 referees and 13 assistant referees to officiate at this year’s Total Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations which Kicks Off tomorrow in Egypt and will run from 8-22 November.

Diana Chikotesha from Zambia and Fathia Jermoumi of Morocco will be the two female Assistant Referees and will be led by the experienced Salma Mukasanga from Rwanda who is the Center Referee.

This is the second time female match officials will be officiating at a men’s tournament following the CAF Referees Committee appointment for the female trio.

This is in line with CAF’s commitment to include female match officials in its competitions.

The Under-23 AFCON tournament which Kicks off tomorrow Friday, November 8 consists of only two groups with a total of 8 teams.

Group A has hosts Egypt, Mali, Ghana, and Cameroon while Group B has Nigeria, Ivory Coast, South Africa, and Zambia.

Group A will see hosts the Young Pharaoh’s of Egypt taking on Mali at 19:00hrs and this match will be followed by the Black Meteors of Ghana against Cameroon at 22:00hrs in their first group games slated for Cairo International Stadium tomorrow November 8, 2019.

Group B which will be based at Al Salam will be in action on Saturday, November 9, as Nigeria will lock horns with Ivory Coast at 17:00hrs while the Junior Chipolopolo will tackle South Africa at 20:00hrs at the same venue.

The top 3 teams at this tournament will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to be hosted by Japan.