Two South African officials for AFCON

South African referee Abongile Tom has been named on the final panel for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, along with veteran Zakhele Siwela.

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They are on the final list of 28 referees and 31 linesmen, plus 14 Video Match Officials named for the tournament, which kicks off on 21 December.

Tom, 33, refereed at the last Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, taking charge of three matches, including a tie in the round of 16, and more recently handling the World Cup playoff match between Gabon and Nigeria in Rabat.

Siwela ran the line at the 2021 Cup of Nations final in Cameroon, which Victor Gomes refereed, and has been to a total of six AFCON tournaments, but he was surprisingly omitted from the last Cup of Nations finals.

His return means he is only one tournament shy of the record appearances at a Cup of Nations finals held by Mali’s Komlan Coulibaly, who worked at eight tournaments.

The 43-year-old Siwela also officiated at the last two World Cup finals.

Alfred Chavani had been on the shortlist for the tournament in Morocco but was not included on the final list.