AFCON 2025: Kenyan Referees Deliver Flawless Performance in Thrilling Group B Contests

Kenyan referees Peter Waweru Kamaku, Stephen Yiembe and Dickens Mimisa had an incident-free performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.

Kamaku and Yiembe were first on duty during South Africa’s thrilling 2-1 win over Angola with the former as the fourth official while the latter served as the second assistant referee.

The game was decided by a late stunner from Burnley striker Lyle Foster after Oswin Appollis had seen his 21st minute goal cancelled out by Show in the 35th minute.

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There was no controversial moment from the match officials in a game also overseen by centre referee Mahmoud Ali Mahmoud Ismail and Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim as first assistant.

Key moments involved a VAR decision that ruled out Tshepang Moremi’s goal for South Africa in the 51st minute when Foster was found to be in an offside position as the goal was scored while South Africa defender Khuliso Mudau’s penalty appeals after going down in the box later in the second half were dismissed.

Yiembe, however, led to a brief stoppage of the game in the first half after his communications gadgets developed mechanical problems and the players were left kicking about the ball as he got his equipment fixed.

Meanwhile, Mimisa was on VAR duty in the late kickoff between Egypt and Zimbabwe, a game that the Warriors nearly embarrassed the Pharaohs.

Prince Dube gave Zimbabwe a surprise lead after 20 minutes and the goal shook Egypt, one of the favourite to win the tournament, but they turned on the style in the second half as Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush struck in the 64th minute to level matters before Liverpool star Mohamed Salah won it in stoppage time.

There was no incident that needed VAR intervention in the game which was overseen by Senegalese trio Issa Sy (centre referee), Djibril Camara (first assistant) and Nouha Bangoura (second assistant).