Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released a list of 68 Referees to officiate the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals slated for January next year in Ivory Coast, but no referee from Malawi has made it on the list.

This has come at time where the reputation of Malawian referees has been tarnished following the recent developments that have occurred in the 2023 season.

According to the list 26 are Center Referees whilst 12 will be operating the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), with 30 as Assistant Referees.

Southern Africa will be represented by South Africa which has contributed Abongile Tom and Akhona Zannith Makalimba, Zambia which has contributed Diana Chicotesha, Mozambique with Arsenio Malingula, Lesotho which will have Soura Phatsoane and others from Angola as well as Madagascar.

North Africa has dominated the list with Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya all sending Referees to be part of the tournament.

The selected officials are expected to undergo a preparation course ahead of the tournament from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

The last time Malawi had a Referee at AFCON finals was in 2012 through Moffat Champiti but since then, local Referees have been isolated by the Continent’s soccer governing body.