By Our Correspondent

World football governing body, FIFA has approved 15 Malawian referees for the 2021 International Referees Panel.

Assistant referee Evance Msonda is the only new face on the list having replaced late Ibrahim Mafuleka who passed on in March last year while the rest have been maintained from last year’s list.

Football Association of Malawi, FAM Referees Development Officer Maxwell Mtonga said the 14 referees have been maintained on the list since there were no enough activities last year to measure their performance due to Covid-19.

“We are pleased that FIFA has confirmed the names of referees we recommended for the 2021 FIFA international Panel.

“They had earlier indicated that we should bring back the referees who were on the panel for 2020 because there was less activity because of the Covid-19 pandemic so they have been retained after they had passed the fitness test that we conducted in October last year,” said Mtonga.

Below is the full list:

Centre Referees: Ishmael Chizinga, Mercy Kayira, Godfrey Nkhakananga, Eness Gumbo, Gift Chicco, Easter Zimba,

Assistant referees: Bernadettar Kwimbira, Clemence Kanduku, Happiness Mbandambanda, Innocent Kaundula, Edward Kambatuwa, Eliza Sichinga, Jonizio Luwizi, Joseph Nyauti and Evance Msonda