By: Gracious Akujobi
World football-governing body, FIFA, has appointed officials from Madagascar to take charge of the crunch 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Flames of Malawi, at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday, 7th September, 2013.
Hamada el Moussa Nampiandraza, 29, and who became an international referee three years ago, will be centre referee for the cracker in which Nigeria must avoid defeat to progress to the 10-team, final elimination round.
His compatriot, Velomanana Ferdinand Jinoro, a 32 year old, who became an international assistant referee last year, will be Assistant Referee 1, with 42-year old Jean Thierry Djaonirina, four years as an international assistant referee, as Assistant Referee 2.
Seth Jaovanona, 37, and who became an international referee last year, is the Fourth Official.
FIFA also appointed Egyptian Abdul Hamid Radwan as the Referee Assessor while former Ghanaian international defender Anthony Baffoe is the Match Commissioner.
Patrick Beckles from Barbados, who was Security Officer for the Eagles’ last home game, against Kenya at the same venue in March, will repeat the role on 7th September.
The African champions, on nine points, only need avoid defeat against seven-pointer Flames at Canaan City, to be eligible for the 16th September draw in Cairo that will set the group leaders against one another in a final knock-out race to Brazil 2014.
When both teams clashed at the Chichiri Stadium in Blantyre in June 2012, Malawi equalised with the last kick of the match for a 1-1 draw.
