Malawian Referee Gift Chicco Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Godfrey Phillip Nkhakananga will take charge of his first 2021 CAF Confederation Cup match after his compatriot Gift Vincent Chicco was forced to withdraw having tested positive for COVID-19.

Phillip Nkhakananga will oversee AS Kigali’s clash with CS Sfaxien at Kigali Stadium on Saturday and will be assisted by Joseph Nyauti and Innocent Kaundula as linesmen.

Chicco announced on Thursday that his hopes of refereeing the Confederation Cup playoff match in Rwanda had been dashed by coronavirus.

“I will miss the match but I just wish fellow Malawian referees going to officiate the match all the best. When I get better, I will go on the ground to resume training hard as referee,” Chicco told reporters.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“It’s a game that could have put my name on the international map. But I am not bitter. For now, I will follow everything that has been advised by the medical personnel.”[/perfectpullquote]

Burundian Mustapha Samugabo will be the match commissioner whereas Jose Nyamusore, also from Burundi, is the game’s Covid Officer.

The absence of Chicco and the parachuting in of Nkhakananga to referee his first 2021 CAF Confederation Cup match is the first coronavirus case to affect officiating at the second-tier of African club football.