SA's Gomes sets the record straight: 'African referees are a force to be reckoned with'

Victor Gomes was beaming with pride on Thursday when the South African Football Association (SAFA) hosted a press conference in Johannesburg following the return of the match officials from the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 39-year-old referee, alongside compatriot Zakhele Siwela, spent about a month in Cameroon officiating in the continent's biggest showpiece.

Gomes, assisted by Siwela and Souru Phatsoane of Lesotho, went all the way to take charge of the intense and emotional final between Senegal and Egypt, which had to be settled by a penalty shootout.

The forthright Gomes is well-known in South Africa for his radical decisions that often steal the headlines and end up trending on social media.

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His name was once again a leading trend during the Afcon final, in which he reprimanded Liverpool star and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah.

Within minutes after the incident, Gomes was trending.

To South Africans, it was no surprise, but to the world, the referee gained further popularity – if not newfound respect from global audiences.

Speaking candidly about his experience at Afcon, Gomes feels that the standard of officiating on the African continent is of a high standard. 

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He also added that most people who disapprove of on field decisions from referees do not understand the game's specific rules.

"I'm one that never shies away from going straight to the point," he told reporters.

"Once again, it is with the constant seminars that we keep having at SAFA level and at CAF level and even at FIFA level that we are improving.

"I humbly ask, and I use this platform to ask