Rwandan referee Louis Hakizimana (L) speaks with Namibia’s defender Riaan Hanamub (C) and Morocco’s forward Nordin Amrabat during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Morocco and Namibia at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on June 23, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has appointed Rwandan referee Hakizimana Louis to handle 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E final match between Mauritania and Tunisia which will be played on Tuesday, July 2 at Suez Stadium.
Hakizimana has a tricky game where both the Carthage Eagles and the Afcon debutants badly need a win in Tuesday’s final group game to proceed to the round of 16.
This is the second game that Hakizimana will be in charge following the Group D match between Morocco and Namibia he officiated on Sunday, June 23 where Morocco won 1-0.
He was also the fourth official during the Group C match between Kenya and Tanzania which was played on June 27 with Kenya winning 3-2.
His assistants for Tuesday’s match include Arsenio Chadreque Maringule from Mozambique who will be the first assistant referee; Sidiki Sidibe from Guinea is the second assistant referee while Burundian Pacifique Ndabihawenimana is the fourth official. The match commissioner is George Kwasi Afriyie from Ghana
Mauritania coach Corentin Martins revealed his team will approach their last Group E game at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations like a final.
On Tuesday, tournament debutant Mauritania will be up against Tunisia and victory for either side will be enough to earn a berth in the Round of 16.
Mauritania claimed a historic first Afcon point on Saturday when they held Angola to a goalless draw.
That result is a lifeline for coach Martins’ men – as it keeps them in the hunt for a place in the last 16 – even though they enter the clash as the bottom-placed team in the group.
While the Mauritania coach admits they have a daunting task ahead of them on Tuesday, he has chosen to give the game his best shot.
Hakizimana, Rwanda’s most experienced referee, has over the last ten years handled big matches in various competitions including the CAF Champions League, the Confederation Cup, Africa Olympic Games qualifiers, Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.
However, he is handling his first senior AFCON finals tournament in Egypt.
