Official: Sikazwe Follows Gomes Into Retirement

The Zambia FA has confirmed that Janny Sikazwe has followed South Africa’s Victor Gomes into retirement.

Sikazwe, just like Gomes, was part of the African representatives at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar that ended last Sunday.

The 43-year-old was in charge of one game – Belgium beating Canada 1-0 in the group stage match – and that was it for him, unlike Gomes who was in charge of two, as well as being the fourth official when France beat England in the quarter finals.

“Yes, he has retired from active refereeing,”  Zambia FA’s secretary general Adrian Kashala told iDiski Times.

Sikazwe will hold a press conference on Friday where he will potentially reflect on his career and what is next for him having now called it quits.

While Zambia will be keen to keep Sikazwe in their own association, SAFA president Danny Jordaan told iDiski Times that he will speak to Gomes to map a way forward because he can’t be lost in the local games, with the aim of roping him in in nurturing up and coming referees.     

Sikazwe, who is 43, is one of the respected officials alongside Gomes on the African continent.

He was in charge when Real Madrid beat Kashima Antlers in the FIFA Club World Cup in the 2016/17 season, the first African official to do so. He also refereed the AFCON final in 2017 when Cameroon beat Egypt after extra-time.

Another was the CAF Super Cup in the 2017/18 season when Wydad Casablanca beat TP Mazembe. He was also in charge when Orlando Pirates lost the CAF Confederation Cup final on penalties to RS Berkane of Morocco in Nigeria in May.   

Unfortunately, the 43-year-old grabbed headlines in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in January for the wrong reasons in the match between Tunisia and Mali, ending it in the 86th minute.

He left everyone stunned in what was hot mid-day in Cameroon, with Tunisia players protesting the premature ending as they lost 1-0.

It was later discovered that he had suffered a heat stroke, leading him to miss the rest of the competition as that game was the only one he officiated.

– Advertisement –

Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).