By Amaechi Agbo

Two Nigeria referees Samuel Pwadutakam and Mimisen Lyorhe will be on duty when the 2021 African Nations Championship, CAHN gets underway in Cameroon on Saturday.

However, both referees are on assistant’s duty role.

 While Samuel Pwadutakam was shortlisted for assistant role in the male category, and Mimisen Lyorhe is on duty for the women category

CAF’s Referees Committee appointed 47 referees and assistant referees – including Video Assistant Referees – from 31 countries in the continent.

The 6th edition of the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) is being held from 16 January to 7 February 2021 in Cameroon.

Nineteen (19) referees, twenty (20) assistant referees and eight (8) video assistant referees were selected for this first major competition under the COVID-19 era.

A female quartet is integrated into the squad, confirming CAF’s decision to include female referees in men’s competitions. They are central referee Lydia Tafesse Abebe (Ethiopia) and assistant referees Bernadetta Kwimbira (Malawi), Mimisen Lyorhe (Nigeria) and Carine Atezambong Fomo (Cameroon).

The selection of the final group of referees was made on the basis of their physical and athletic skills, as well as their understanding of football including their ability to read the game.

The Total CHAN, Cameroon 2020 opening match between hosts Cameroon and Zimbabwe will take place on 16 January 2021 at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé at 17:00 GMT.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles B Team failed to qualify for the competition in 2018.