Referee untimely ends game twice; AFCON football match finishes in chaos

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SportsTak

It is not a rare visual to experience players and team management opposing referee’s decision vehemently during a football match but on Wednesday (January 12) Tunisia’s footballers went against the referee as the African Cup of Nations match between Tunisia and Mali was ended twice before full 90 minutes had been played.

 

Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe had initially blown the full time whistle after 85 minutes but soon after understanding the mistake he had resumed the match but then again just seconds before 90 minutes were up the Zambian match official surprisingly decided to finish the game. 

 

Previous charges

But getting focus and attention for negative news is not something Sikazwe had to experience for the first time on Wednesday. The Zambian had previously been suspended on charges of alleged corruption. 

 

But this is not the only decision that has been severely criticized. The match had previously seen a controversial red card awarded to Mali attacker El Bilal Toure and two debatable penalties given to both the nations. 

 

"The referee blew the whistle at the 85 minute mark at the 89 minute mark, it's lunar," Tunisia coach Mondher Kebaier was quoted while talking to the AFCON website.

 

"He deprived us of concentration. We did not want to resume because the players had already taken their baths, deconcentrated and demoralized in the face of this gruesome situation,” added the Tunisia coach after his team’s 1-0 defeat.

 

The solitary goal of the match

Mali striker Ibrahim Kone scored from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute of the game and that goal turned out to be the decider of the match. 

 

Though, Tunisia striker Wahbi Khazri got a golden opportunity to find an equaliser from the penalty spot in the 76th minute of the match but his shot was saved by the Mali custodian Ibrahim Mounkoro. 

 

Mali’s victory helped them to claim the top spot in Group F. Tunisia, on the other hand, are at the bottom. 

 

“These are administrative questions. We were told to go back on the pitch because the game was not finished," said Mali coach Mohamed Magassouba after the match.

 

“Unfortunately the opposition team did not want to come back out and the final whistle was blown."

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