The referee who infamously blew early for full-time not once but twice in the Africa Cup of Nations fixture between Tunisia and Mali claims he was lucky he “didn’t go into a coma” and could’ve died from heatstroke.
Janny Sikazwe of Zambia was the subject of ridicule and controversy after twice signalling the end of the match prematurely during the group stage fixture.
Not content with incorrectly blowing for full-time in the 85th minute, prompting confused looks from both sets of players, he then ended the match before the 90 minute mark.
In between those two huge errors, he also found time to dish out a contentious red card to Mali forward El Bilal Toure.
Tunisia, who were 1-0 down and would have expected a reasonable chunk of injury time, were furious with the official as their staff and substitutes poured onto the pitch to remonstrate with the decision.
Some time after the ‘final’ whistle had blown, CAF officials instructed the teams to go back out and complete the tie, interrupting a Mali press conference to deliver the information.
Mali went back out to finish the game, but Tunisia did not reappear.
Sikazwe, the referee at the centre of the controversy, was later taken to hospital with sun stroke, and the premature whistler has since claimed that ‘he could’ve died’ from the heat
- * Daily Star
