The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has selected two Rwandan international referees among match officials to handle the 2016 CHAN finals tournament, which is scheduled for January 16 to February 7 in Rwanda.

The two FIFA/CAF officials, who have been selected to be among 34 referees for the three-week long tournament, are center referee Hudu Munyemana and assistant referee Théogène Ndagijimana.

The two, arguably the most experienced football referees in Rwanda, have previously been entrusted by the world football governing body, FIFA and CAF with various international duties.

Since 2008, Ndagijimana, who also officiated at the third edition of CHAN in 2014 in South Africa, was at this year’s AFCON finals in Equatorial Guinea won by Ivory Coast as well as the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile and claimed by Nigeria.

Munyemana, who is a CAF official since 2001, has also been shortlisted among 23 elite referees to handle the 2015 CAF U23 Championship set for November 28- December 12 in Senegal.

Among other referees selected for CHAN Rwanda 2016 include; South African duo of Daniel Bennett and Steven Khumalo, Ghana’s Joseph Lamptey and David Laryea as well as veteran referee Jerry Yekeh of Liberia.

All 34 referees of the tournament will arrive on Kigali on January 11, 2016 to undergo a series of physical and medical tests.

Rwanda will host the 12-country continental show piece in three cities (Kigali, Huye and Rubavu) and at four different venues namely; Amahoro national stadium, Kigali regional stadium, Umuganda stadium in Rubavu and Huye stadium.

The opening game will pit hosts Rwanda against Ivory Coast on January 16 at Amahoro national stadium.

CHAN 2016 Groups:

Group A: Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Gabon.Group B: DRC, Ethiopia, Cameroon, AngolaGroup C: Tunisia, Guinea, Niger, NigeriaGroup D: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Mali

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