Controversial Afcon referee chosen to officiate Pirates' Confed Cup final

Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe will officiate the CAF Confederation Cup final between Orlando Pirates and RS Berkane on Friday, 20 May in Nigeria.

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According to the ZNBC website, the 42-year-old will be assisted by Angolan Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos and Mozambican Arsenio Chadreque Maringule.

Joshua Bondo (Botswana) will serve as the fourth official, while Egyptian Mahmoud Ashor will be the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) alongside his compatriots Mahmoud Abouelregal and Mahmoud Elbana.

The fixture will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (21:00 SA time).

Sikazwe, who officiated a match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has caught the spotlight but unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons.

The official was suspended in 2018 by CAF on the suspicion of corruption.

Earlier this year Sikazwe was on duty in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), but it was during a Group F fixture between Mali and Tunisia where he  made some dubious calls.

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The one that stood out and saw the Tunisian bench take to the pitch in disagreement was when he blew the full-time whistle in the 85th minute.

After resuming the match, four minutes later, in the 89th minute, the referee again blew his full-time whistle before regulation time was over, but this time he stuck to his decision.

Chaos erupted as the Tunisian coaching staff circled all the officials, but Sikazwe stood his ground as police and security surrounded the Zambian.

Mali claimed a 1-0 victory but after much deliberation CAF officials ordered that both teams come out again and play the final five minutes