Zambia heads into the second leg of the World Cup qualifier with a 2-0 aggregate lead and will look to close it out this afternoon, while Uganda’s Teen Cranes are confident of overturning the deficit.
Sheryle Botes, Uganda’s coach, expressed concern about the officiating in the first leg, which was played at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, during a pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Botes alleged that the referee and her assistants used the big screen in the stadium as VAR to rule out what could have been an equalizing goal for her side in the 64th minute.
“The fourth official called the referee over, and subsequently, there was a big-screen TV in the stadium where they showed the score. Some other broadcaster replayed that moment when the goal was scored and used the big screen TV as VAR,” bemoaned Botes.
She also revealed that the Uganda Football Federation (FUFA) has written a letter to FIFA to complain about the goal that was ruled out by the officiating panel.
CAF has since tasked Juliet Appiah, who recently attended a three-day FIFA Referees Workshop organised by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF), as the center referee.
Appiah will be assisted by compatriots Mary Tei as the first assistant, Patricia Kyeraa as the second assistant, and Salifu Chisu Barikisu as the fourth official.
Ntebogang Tsietsi from Botswana will serve as the match commissioner, while veteran referee Lidya Tafesse Abebe from Ethiopia will be the referee’s assessor.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 CAT.
READ MORE: Uganda to write to FIFA over disallowed goal in Zambia U-17 World Cup qualifier
