Zambian top referee Janny Sikazwe will handle Group D’s highly anticipated Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Ivory Coast in Douala.
The two African power houses are separated by a point with Ivory Coast top of the group with 13 points.
The Elephants are coached by former Chipolopolo Boys assistant coach Patrice Beaumulle, a two-times African Cup of Nations winner with Zambia and Ivory Coast.
After spells as Herve Renard’s assistant in Angola and Morocco, Patrice was installed as Ivory Coast coach.
For Sikazwe, one of the most decorated and travelled Zambian referees, won’t be fancied by the match at Japoma Stadium in Douala.
Sikazwe was scouted by Zimbabwe’s FIFA Referees Instructor Felix Tangawarima in 2008 and got his breakthrough at a regional Cosafa Under-20 tournament.
“Janny is a teacher by profession, so he is someone who is a leader already,” Tangawarima tells KweséESPN in 2018.
“He came into the limelight by accident. In 2008 we had the CAF Under-20 Championships in South Africa and one of the referees failed a fitness test.
“I knew Janny from my work in COSAFA, but the rest of the CAF people didn’t know him. He came into the tournament and did very well. The rest is history; he has kept on developing and kept on working hard at his refereeing.
He is the first Zambian referee to have officiated at the FIFA World Cup (Russia 2018).
Sikazwe refereed the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup final between Real Madrid and Kashima Antlers, and also the final of the 2017 African Nations Cup.
He has also officiated in the finals of the both the African Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions.
Brest wishe Sikazwe, you are a great man