AFCON 2021: Controversial referee who ended Tunisia vs Mali game early claims it was a message from God

Janny Sikazwe, the referee who officiated the Tunisia vs Mali group stage game in the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon, has claimed that he ended the game after hearing from God.

Sikaziwe blew for full-time early in the Group F opening match between Tunisia and Mali in the ongoing AfCON, and has now claimed he did so because he felt a heatstroke coming on. He also claimed that he could have died if he did not end the match early.

The Zambian official blew for full time five minutes to the end of the full 90 minutes regulation time in the match that was played on January 12. He was later forced to restart the game and still ended it 13 seconds early.

Tunisia were losing 1-0 and playing against a Mali side that were a man down. The referee’s decision left the bench of Tunisia furious and they stormed onto the pitch to confront him.

Sikaziwe had to be escorted off the pitch by security as the tensions started to boil over. The AFCON LOC ordered the match to be resumed, but Tunisia did not return to the pitch inadvertently giving the victory to Mali.

Sikaziwe was later suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the rest of the tournament and has now come out to say that he ended the match after God told him to, due to him feeling a heatstroke coming on.

“I have seen people going for duties outside the country and come back in a casket,” he told reporters after arriving back in Zambia. “I was very close to coming back like that.

“I was lucky I didn’t go into a coma. It would have been a very different story. The doctors told me my body was not cooling down. It would have been just a little time before [I would have gone] into a coma, and that would have been the end.

“I think God told me to end the match. He saved me.”

Unusual climate led to my decision, Sikaziwe claims

Sikazwe further insisted that the extreme Sub-Saharan climate, which has seen some matches at the tournament played in temperatures of over 30C, affected him a lot.

“The weather was so hot, and the humidity was about 85 per cent,” he continued. 

“After the warm-up I felt the [conditions] were something else. We were trying to drink water but you could not feel the water quenching you – nothing.

“But we [match officials] believe we are soldiers and we go and fight.

“Everything I was putting on was hot. Even the communication equipment, I wanted to throw it away. It was so hot.”

AFCON 2021: Sadio Mane declared fit for Senegal quarter final fixture

Sadio Mane has been declared fit by doctors after a head collision that left him dazed and is cleared to play for Senegal ahead of their quarter final game against Equatorial Guinea in the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament.

Sadio Mane was forced off the pitch during Senegal’s 2-0 round of 16 victory over Cape Verde on Tuesday after a clash of heads with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. Mane had to be attended to for an extended period during the game, but came back on to keep playing.

He eventually scored the first of the two goals which earned Senegal a place in the quarter final but the collision did more damage than the on-pitch medics could determine, leading Mane to ask to be substituted.

After tests and X-Rays, Senegal’s doctor Abdourahmane Fedior has declared Mane fit, claiming he has no concussion symptoms and will be able to face Equatorial Guinea with the Teranga Lions on Sunday.

“All the symptoms he had on the pitch are gone,” Dr. Fedior in a statement released by the Senegal FA. “His condition requires fairly close monitoring. Everything is normal on the X-ray.”

The decision to allow Mane to continue after the collision did not sit right with brain-injury charity Headway, who heavily criticised the decision to keep Mane on the field through their deputy CEO Luke Griggs.

Griggs said in a statement: “This was a sickening collision that clearly left both players in enough distress for a concussion to have surely been considered a possibility at the very least.

“At that point, the principle of ‘if in doubt, sit it out!’ should have resulted in Mane being substituted without another ball being kicked.

“The image of the player collapsing on the ground and having to be helped from the pitch after scoring his goal should tell you everything you need to know about the impact and the effect it had had on his brain.”

“Yet again, the desire to win is seen as being worth serious risks to players’ health. It is simply shocking that this continues to happen.

“This is now a real test of leadership for the Confederation of African Football and world governing body FIFA – particularly if Senegal declare Mane fit for Sunday’s quarter-final. If football wants to be taken seriously when it comes to concussion, it simply must take action to enforce and strengthen its protocols.”

Liverpool urge Mane to sit out Senegal’s quarter final game

Mane – the reigning African Footballer of the Year – later posted a picture of himself with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha from the hospital on social media on Friday, with the caption “recovering”.

The forward is a key figure in the Teranga Lions hopes of winning their first ever AfCON title, and are one of the key favourites to win the title in this edition.

However, Daily Mail reports that Liverpool have urged Mane to sit out the match as they fear that he is not fully fit even with the tests and X-Rays showing no signs of serious injury.

Liverpool have also contacted the Senegalese football authorities to express their fears over their star forward’s condition with hopes that they do not field Mane against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday and let him recover.

Senegal manager unhappy with claims over players’ health

Meanwhile, Senegal manager Aliou Cisse is unhappy with the suggestions that the Teranga Lions are not considering their players’ health.

Aliou Cisse is unwilling to accept the claims and suggestions, who are citing Mane’s case as reason. The Cape Verde goalkeeper was removed promptly from the game before being sent off as he was the one who rushed into the rash challenge, but Mane played for another 15 minutes before the collision took its full toll on him.

Sources close to Liverpool as well as observers of the tournament, including brain injury charity Headway, have called for the head of the Senegal national team handlers for taking such a risk with a very important player.

“I can reassure you that the health of Mane and all the players I have at my availability at the moment is very important,” Cisse told GOAL defiantly ahead of Sunday’s AfCON quarter final against Equatorial Guinea. “We don’t play with our players’ health, nor do our doctors.

“We are professionals as well, so while the result is important, the health of our players doesn’t go above the importance of the results.”

AFCON Update: Stampede kills six, injures 40 in Cameroon knockout game

An unfortunate stampede which killed six fans occurred as the hosts of the 33rd African Cup of Nations, Cameroon, battled Comoros for a spot in the quarter finals.

Five-time AfCON winners Cameroon are looking to secure their sixth title at home in front of their football loving compatriots and this overzealousness led to a stampede occurring in the Indomitable Lions round of 16 game against debutants Comoros.

40 people including children were injured and six people have been pronounced dead in the stampede as a large crowd tried to force their way into the Olembe stadium in the country’s capital Yaounde to see Cameroon play Comoros.

The Olembe stadium is a 60,000 capacity stadium but COVID-19 restrictions mean that the grounds will have to restrict its capacity to 80 percent of its total. Fans, however, we’re having none of it and over 50,000 tried to gain access into the grounds, leading to the stampede.

Yaounde authorities have also come out to say that the casualty numbers could be more as news continues to come out about the stampede.

Regional governor Naseri Paul Biya said that there could be more casualties as news continues to filter out on the emergency.

CAF statement on the Stampede

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has come out with a statement concerning the stampede.

The statement reads: “CAF is aware of the incident that took place at Olembe Stadium during the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations fixture between hosts Cameroon and Comoros tonight, 24 January 2022.

“CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired. We are in constant communication with Cameroon government and the Local Organizing Committee.

“Tonight, the CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe sent the General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba to visit the supporters in hospital in Yaounde.”

Malawi boss hits out at AfCON LOC

Elsewhere, the manager of the Malawian national team Mario Marinica has slammed the local organising committee of the African Cup of Nations for perceived bias against the smaller teams.

Malawi are in their first ever knockout rounds of the AfCON tournament after qualifying from Group B as one of the best third placed teams and will be facing Morocco on Tuesday. However, manager Marinica has claimed that the circumstances in which his team have been living is affecting their overall preparation for games.

“You wouldn’t see Sadio Mane washing his own underpants and hanging them on a bush to dry,” Marinica said to ESPN. “Gambia have the same problem, and there are different standards here, teams are being treated differently.

“Certain questions have to be asked; why are these things happening to us, why only to the smaller teams, why only to Comoros, Gambia, us?

“I couldn’t have milk for coffee, they said the milk was finished until tomorrow. We are treated like second-class citizens, but if you’re a hotel manager and you see this happening, you take charge, you can’t allow it in this day and age, at this level of competition.”

Marinica also hit out at the officiating in the tournament, which has seen some questionable calls being made.

“Honesty on the pitch is important,” he said. “The referee in the last match played a huge part in our draw with Senegal, where we had a clear-cut penalty, the player was pushed, pulled and the referee gave nothing.

“Later, the ref gave offside when he should have played advantage, it’s as though we are second-rate citizens.”

Malawi midfielder John Banda backed up his manager’s claims. “Our clothes haven’t been washed, it’s true, and we’re facing some problems. It’s unfortunate that we’re being taken as underdogs,” he said.

“As Africa, we need to be treated equally, the same as Senegal, Nigeria, all equally. This is a competition, no teams are guaranteed they will win it, and we all need equal treatment and fairness.”

Nantes manager gives verdict on Moses Simon’s AfCON performance

Nantes manager, Antoine Kombouaré has spoken about Moses Simon’s incredible group stage performances at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The Nantes forward has been a bright spark in Nigeria’s attack, scoring one goal and providing one assist as the Super Eagles finished the group stages being the only team to win all three games.

Simon joined up with the Nigerian national team on the back of solid performances at Nantes in Ligue 1, where he won two player of the month awards between the start of the 2021/22 season in August and December 2021.

Simon has arguably been Nantes’ best player in the league and manager Kombouaré has stated that it will benefit the club even more if Nigeria go far in the competition.

“I am very interested in the CAN and I watch almost all the matches,” Kombouaré told Nantes’ official website.

“Of course, I am very happy for the boys selected. There were great performances from all our players.

“Of course, especially Moses Simon, with Nigeria, he’s doing something good. Now it’s time for the cutthroat matches. It’s good to see them advancing in the competition and the further they go, the better it will be for us.”

Simon has already played 18 times for Nantes this season, scoring two goals and registering six assists. He is currently one of the first names on Nigeria’s team sheet as the tournament enters the knockout rounds.

He will be looking at keeping his place in the CAF team of the tournament after being named in the team of the group stages for his impeccable performance.

Super Eagles still have a lot to prove, Simon says

Simon is not resting on his oars and has told journalists that the team still have a lot to prove even with their 100 percent start to life in Cameroon.

Nigeria under Augustine Eguavoen came into the tournament riding on the expectations of many, including analysts who predicted that they would finish as champions. They have since shown signs of living up to those expectations as they are now considered the key favourites for the 33rd African Cup of Nations title.

Simon, however, says the West African nation – who face Tunisia in Sunday’s round of 16 fixture – should not let the praises get to them.

“We are not the ones calling ourselves the favourites and winning three matches on the bounce doesn’t change the fact that we can improve,” Simon told BBC Sport Africa.

“Personally we know that we’ve still got a lot to prove because big teams like Algeria and Ghana have been sent home early, so that is a sign not to get carried away.

“Some people are already underestimating Tunisia but they are here to also fight for a place to be in the quarterfinal and I’d rather we play them as the underdogs than approach it like favourites.”

Simon also praised the former manager Gernot Rohr for laying a good foundation which the team is building on in the ongoing tournament.

“We cannot forget the foundation laid by the former coach [Gernot Rohr] because he also gave majority of the players here a chance to play for the country,” Simon added.

“It’s always a dream come true to play for Nigeria. There’s always a huge passion and desire to do well for your country and enjoy the plaudits but we must be careful. We have not won anything yet as a team in Cameroon.”

Tunisia report 12 COVID-19 cases in their camp ahead of Nigeria clash

Elsewhere, Tunisia will be facing Nigeria at less than half strength with a whopping 12 players having tested positive for COVID-19.

Tunisia head coach Mondher Kebaier, the captain, Wahbi Khazri, and 11 other players are currently isolating leaving the Carthage Eagles short of adequate manpower and tactical nous to face a rampaging Super Eagles of Nigeria side.

Manager Kebaier was absent during the pre-match press conference on Saturday and Jalal Al-Qadri, Tunisia’s assistant coach, addressed journalists in his place during the press conference.

Al-Qadri stated that alongside manager Kebaier and captain Khazri, Aissa Laidouni, Dylan Bronn, Ghaylène Chaalali, Ellyes Skhiri, Anis Ben Slimane, Mohamed Romdhane, Ali Maâloul, Ben Hmida, Aymen Dahmen, Yoann Touzgha and Issam Jebali will be sitting out the crucial match against Nigeria.

Also, first choice goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha is suspended from the game, limiting their options between the sticks as well.

Tunisia, who qualified for the round of 16 after finishing as one of the four best losers in the group stages, will feel hard done by the tournament after a controversial start to life in Cameroon.

Defending champions Algeria knocked out of AfCON by Côte d’Ivoire

Riyad Mahrez and Algeria have failed in their African Cup of Nations Title defence after their 3-0 loss to Côte d’Ivoire which saw them finish last in Group E, in which they scored only one goal.

The Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire stamped all over the Desert Foxes in a commanding performance that made Algeria’s form coming into the tournament look like a very lengthy fluke. Before the start of the tournament, Mahrez and co had racked up 34 games without a defeat, just three short of Italy’s world record of 37.

Three games undefeated out of three in Group E would have seen them match the record and possibly surpass it in the coming rounds to etch an African team into FIFA world records. However, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone proved too much to handle for Algeria and they were only able to get one draw in the Group – against Sierra Leone who are also out of the tournament – to take their run to 35, and two losses to effectively end their run.

Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare scored in the first half for the Elephants in Douala, while Nicholas Pepe added a third in the second half. Sebastien Haller scored a fourth but it was chalked off as the Elephants finished top of their group to face Mohammed Salah’s Egypt in the round of 16.

Cote d’Ivoire had already qualified to the next round but Algeria had the chance to continue their title defence with a win against Pepe and co. However, that never looked like a possibility as the game progressed.

Algeria is the fifth team to exit the AfCON tournament in the last six editions as the defending champions, however, they will go down in history as the worst title defenders in recent memory. They are also the 12th team to exit the competition in the first round as defending champions.

Equatorial Guinea through to the next round ahead of Algeria

Minnows Equatorial Guinea had a group stage to remember after beating Algeria in a game that many thought the Desert Foxes would find their form in. They finished the group in second place after defeating fellow minnows Sierra Leone – who also had a tournament to remember after holding Algeria to a famous 0-0 draw – by a lone goal. 

Equatorial Guinea qualified for the tournament for the first time ever. This is their third participation in the continental showpiece, however, with the first two times being as hosts where they qualified automatically. However, they will look back on this tournament with pride, having handled themselves well in the qualifiers and now in the tournament proper.

They will be facing Mali in the round of 16 and will be looking forward to bettering their fourth-place finish from 2015.

AFCON 2021: Holders Algeria on the brink of group stage exit

Algeria, the current defending champions of the African Cup of Nations, could be exiting the 2021 edition of the tournament in the group stage following a loss to minnows Equatorial Guinea.

The Desert Foxes, captained by Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, went into the game as favourites despite their 0-0 against Sierra Leone in their first match in Cameroon.

Equatorial Guinea, however, stunned Algeria 20 minutes from time and held on to seal all three points and send Algeria to the bottom of their Group E table and leave the champions on the brink of a group stage exit.

Mahrez’s side came into the tournament as favourites, having played 35 matches without any losses, two short of Italy’s world record of 37. They were also expected to escape Group E unscathed as minnows Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, as well as the shaky Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire were their opponents.

The Algerian fans were in for a shock when Sierra Leone, making their first appearance in the tournament in 26 years, matched them player for player and prevented them from scoring. Expected to regain their mojo against Equatorial Guinea, they were also in for a rid6e shock.

The Natural Thunder held on as the Desert Foxes launched a flurry of attack in a desperate move to secure a point to at least give them an option to escape the group and defend their title.

Algeria currently have one point from two games and have scored no goals in the tournament so far.

Sierra Leone stirring up belief among fans with AfCON showing

After holding defending champions Algeria to a goalless draw in their opening Group E game, they showed AfCON giants Cote d’Ivoire that they also meant business by fighting back to a draw in their second group game.

The Leone Stars scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser to grab a 2-2 draw against Cote d’Ivoire following a mistake from the Ivorian defence that also led to an injury to the Elephant’s goalkeeper.

Keeper Badra Sangare fumbled a defensive back-header, twisting his knee in the process. He could only watch helplessly as Leone Star Alhadji Kamara tapped in from close range to secure another draw to give Sierra Leone a fighting chance in Group E.

As it stands, Cote d’Ivoire top Group E with four points, Equatorial Guinea are second with three following their defeat of title holders Algeria, and Sierra Leone are third with two points. Algeria are last with just one point.

The result means that they have every hope of going through to the last 16, after being tipped for an early exit from the tournament.

Sierra Leone’s keeper Mohamed Nbalie Kamara produced some good performances against Cote d’Ivoire, including a penalty save from AC Milan’s Franck Kessie, to follow up with his man of the match performance against Algeria.

They however had to fight back twice to secure the point, to the disappointment of Ivorian fans and to the admiration of adoring fans all across Africa.

They will, however, have to produce a fine performance against Equatorial Guinea and hope that Cote d’Ivoire does not slip up against Algeria to complete their fairytale return to the AfCON tournament.

“That’s really s***”: Sebastian Haller replies Afcon or club question

Sebastian Haller is the latest to kick against the “disrespect” shown by Europeans towards the African Cup of Nations.

COVID is currently ripping throughout Europe and the restrictions from the thick of the pandemic are back in many countries.

A few African nations have been red-listed by some European countries and why this move is causing eyebrows to be raised on the political scene, European clubs are looking to take advantage of this to prevent their players from leaving for Afcon.

The 27-year-old former France youth international who declared for the country of his mother’s birth in 2020, was asked by a correspondent of Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf if he would answer Cote d’Ivoire’s call to represent them at Afcon.

Furiously, he replied, “This question shows the disrespect for Africa. Would this question ever get asked to a European player ahead of the EUROs?

“Of course I am going to the Africa Cup [of Nations]. This tournament was actually supposed to be held in the summer, but was postponed due to Covid.

“Of course I will go to the Africa Cup to represent Ivory Coast. That is the highest honour.”

“I hate having to choose,” Haller says

Haller’s outburst is as a result of the way African players across Europe have been asked to choose between club and country.

Many prominent African footballers have spoken out against the “belittling” of the tournament. Emmanuel Adebayor, former Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham forward who was captain of the Togolese national team even came out to claim that no coach would have stopped him from going for Afcon in his time.

“There is no coach in the world that can prevent me from playing at the Afcon,” Adebayor is quoted as saying by GHANAsoccernet.

“It’s disgusting that some persons are trying to prevent the African players from playing at the Afcon.”

Haller echoed Adebayor’s sentiments. To his earlier comments, he added: “I hate having to choose between my country and my club. That’s really s***.

“This situation is very frustrating. I hate having to choose between my country and my club. That’s really s***.”

Watford looking to block Emmanuel Dennis from Afcon

Elsewhere, Watford boss Claudio Ranieri is trying to block his star man Emmanuel Dennis from travelling with Nigeria to the Afcon tournament in January.

Ranieri claims that the Nigerian Football Federation sent the notice late and as a result, they may not be granted access to Dennis.

“The email didn’t arrive at the right moment. The national team has a time to send a pre-call. They didn’t respect the days, and I want to see,” Ranieri said.

“They have a time when they need to send a pre-call; if they don’t send it, we can choose.

“I’m not so sure I will miss him now, I don’t know if he will go. Let’s think about it this week, and then I will tell you.”