FIFA referee Diana Chikotesha has been designated as the first assistant for the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 final between Senegal and Morocco, taking place this evening.
The highly anticipated match will commence at 23:00 Central Africa Time at the Nelson Mandela stadium in Algiers.
Tanguy Patrice Mebiame, the Gabonese referee, will be in charge of overseeing the proceedings, with Fanta Idrissa Kone from Mali serving as the second assistant referee.
In addition, there will be a representation from southern Africa in the final, as Akhona Makalima from South Africa will support Video Assistant Referee Ahmad Heeralall from Mauritius in the VAR room.
Diana Chikotesha, who stands as Zambia’s prominent match official, is also expected to officiate at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in July.
Chikotesha has consistently demonstrated her capabilities at the highest level in recent years.
Her first assignment in 2023 was at the Algeria 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
She has steadily progressed in her career, receiving appointments at local, continental, and global events.
In April 2022, she was invited to participate in the prestigious Maurice Revello Tournament 2022 held in France.
Subsequently, Chikotesha was appointed by FIFA to officiate at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica in May of the same year.
In July, she was present in Morocco as an official for the 2022 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
