Janny Sikazwe: Zambian Referee Gets Guard of Honour During Final Game

Janny Sikazwe: Zambian Referee Gets Guard of Honour During Final Game

Ibitoye Shittu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:22 PM
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  • Janny Sikazwe was in charge of the game between NAPSA Stars and Red Arrows in his final career game
  • The controversial Zambian referee was given guard of honour before the start of the encounter
  • The week 18 fixture however brought an end to Janny Sikazwe's career in officiating after 23 years

Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe over the weekend got a guard of honour after officiating his last career game after 23 years during the tie between NAPSA Stars and champions, Red Arrows.

Sikazwe was the first Zambian referee to officiate at the World Cup getting the chance in Qatar during the game between Belgium and Canada as he retired afterwards.

The 43-year-old was one of the Africa's finest referees with a career of over 20 years experience.

Janny Sikazwe, Zambian referee, guard, honour, World Cup
Janny Sikazwe: Zambian referee gets guard of honour during final career game. Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt
Source: Getty Images

He has taken charge of a CAF Champions League final, and African Cup of Nations final. The 42 year old has handled matches from the Zambian lower tiers to the FIFA World Cup.

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How the guard came

Before the kickoff of the game between NAPSA Stars and Red Arrows in the week 18 fixture, other officials were already out and waiting for Janny.

While the Zambian referee was coming out with the ball on his hands, his colleagues were giving him applause.

See the photo below

It will be recalled that Sikazwe twice blew for full time too early in a Group F CAF 2021 African Cup of Nations between Mali and Tunisia, and had to be escorted by security.

Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe blasted

Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe went from being CAF's headache to now being a problem for FIFA.

Sikazwe was in charge of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Group F match between Belgium and Canada the Red Devils won 1-0. He has come in for criticism with the whistle in his mouth.

Canadian fans were left fuming by the decisions Sikazwe made during the match, particularly ones involving penalty shouts.

Sikazwe earned himself eternal infamy after accidentally ending a match early between Mali and Tunisia at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

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