It was a bizarre and controversial end to the AFCON match between Tunisia and Mali as centre referee Janny Sikazwe twice blew his whistle to end the game before 90 minutes.
The group F clash saw Mali declared 1-0 winners after a lone penalty goal by Ibrahima Kone had put Mali in front minutes into the second half.
However, the game ended in a controversial fashion when Zambian referee Sikazwe blew his whistle for full-time at weird times.
Sikazwe initially blew his whistle in the 85th minute of the game but continued the game after the error was realised.
However, just minutes later, he once again blew the whistle, this time around in the 89th minute and with about 17 seconds left of normal time, to finally bring an end to the game.
The Tunisian players and coaching staff were perplexed with the decision and were visibly seen consulting the referee as to why the match was ended so abruptly and way before time but the referee paid them no mind.
It was even more confusing as the second half was a turbulent one which ultimately would have required a substantial amount of extra time.
There were nine substitutions made, two penalties awarded, a sending off and VAR checks.
However, in this case, not only was there no extra time, the match was also cut short at the inappropriate time.
Shortly after the match was ended, there were suggestions that the remaining minutes of the game will be played but at this point, both sets of players had already left the pitch.
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About 30 minutes after the halting of the game, Mali players re-emerged from the tunnel and went onto the pitch in hopes of seeing out the final minutes of the game.
However it was not to be as the Tunisia players refused to come back unto the pitch.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Mali coach Magassouba said: “I told the players that we can only control what is on the pitch. Off the pitch, that’s up to the administrators.
“When we were told to go back out and play, the players were more than willing. Unfortunately, our opponents didn’t want to come out.”
Meanwhile in the Tunisian camp, manager Mondher Kebaier gave his own side of the events:
“It’s very tough to manage non-sporting affairs.
“At the 85th minute he (Sikazwe) blows the final whistle. Again at the 89th minute. There was supposed to be seven-eight minutes of additional time. His decision is inexplicable.
“The players were taking ice baths for 35 minutes before they were called back out again. I’ve been coaching for a long time and never seen anything like it.
“Even the fourth referee was preparing to lift the board [to show the additional time added] and then the whistle was blown.”
This is not the first time Sikazwe is being placed at the center of controversy. In 2018, the referee was suspended by CAF on suspicion of corruption. FIFA later made the decision to lift the sanction in January 2019.
If the 1-0 result stands, Mali will be in a good position to progress into the knockout stages of the competition for the second consecutive time.
What did you make of the match and what do you think should happen to AFCON referee Janny Sikazwe? Let us know in the comments section.
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