Mussa in another CAF task

Sports Reporter

IT keeps getting better for Sharif Mussa after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appointed him general coordinator of a Champions League tie between South Africa’s AmaZulu and Guinea outfit Horoya.

He took charge of the Group B Match Day 2 encounter at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday.

Luvuyo Memela’s 30th-minute strike gave AmaZulu a 1-0 win and ensured Usuthu registered their first win of the group stages.

Although he has previously taken charge of some preliminary matches for both Champions League and Confederation Cup games, that Mussa has once again been mandated to lead the organisation of a group stage assignment is a massive vote of confidence from CAF.

With travelling across the continent made increasingly difficult by Covid-19 in the last two years, CAF have had to shuffle around with assignments for their activities, which also limited their appointments.

“It is always humbling when you get recognition from such football bodies like CAF, and this is not only an honour for me but for my country,” Mussa said.

“I will once again strive to do the best to ensure the match is organised and the team work involved is executed without any hitches.

“A lot of the focus is always placed more on the group games as teams get closer to their aim of winning the Champions League, and for the good of the image of African football, we have to ensure that all assignments are run smoothly.”

Both FIFA and CAF now attach greater importance and more responsibilities on match general coordinators (GCs) and the role they play in competitions.

GCs at each match must ensure that nothing is left to chance, from the location of morning meetings, team colours, doping controls to the procedure at the moment of the teams’ entry onto the pitch.

In Friday night’s match, Cameroonian referee Ngwa Yuven took charge and had his countrymen Elvis Nguegoue and Rodrigue Mpele as first and second assistant referees.

Another Cameroonian Jeannot Bito was the fourth official, while Lesotho’s Mpopo Benedict was the match commissioner.

South Africa’s Thulani Ngwenya was the Covid-19 compliance officer.

Mussa was also in the company of another Zimbabwean, Emmanuel Mutunami, who was the CAF match-day security officer.

In reaching the Champions League group stage, Benny McCarthy’s AmaZulu dispatched Malawi football kings Nyasa Big Bullets, who are under the guidance of Kalisto Pasuwa.

Nyasa Big Bullets had taken a first-leg lead in Durban before it was overturned in Lilongwe by the South African outfit.

Ahead of their clash at Moses Mabhida, both AmaZulu and Horoya had been without a point.

Log leaders Raja Casablanca had proved too strong for CAF Champions League debutants AmaZulu the previous week, as the Moroccan hosts claimed a 1-0 win in their Group B opener at Stade Mohamed V.

Horoya, who now anchor the standings, also succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Algerian club ES Setif at home in their opening Group B encounter on February 12.