AFCON 2023: Kenyan referee to take charge of top clash pitting Morocco against Ivory Coast

Kenyan referee Peter Waweru Kamaku will begin his 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on-pitch assignment on Sunday when he takes charge of the big clash pitting Morocco and DR Congo.

Kamaku is making a return to the AFCON after officiating at the delayed 2021 edition in Cameroon and will take centre stage in the match in which Morocco will be seeking a second straight win to qualify for the knockout round while DRC search their first victory after their 1-1 draw with Zambia.

The Kenyan referee has already had a taste of AFCON 2023 when he was the VAR for the Group B clash pitting Egypt and Mozambique

He came under the spotlight on the day when he awarded Egypt a stoppage-time penalty after Domingos Macandza was adjudged to have felled Mostafa Mohamed in the box, with Mohamed Salah stepping up to the spot to score for a 2-2 draw to break the Mambas’ hearts.

Sunday’s match will be played at the 20,000-seater Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro and pits 1968 and 1974 winners DRC against Morocco, whose one title was won in 1976.

Waweru, a well-respected centre referee, will be officiating at his third straight AFCON tournament after making his debut at the 2019 edition in Egypt before returning for the delayed 2021 event in Cameroon last year.

A holder of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pure Mathematics and a senior lecturer at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kamaku is highly experienced at this level, having also officiated the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament and U20 World Cup.

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