AFCON - Zambian Ref Claims He 'Could Have Died'

'I was lucky I didn't go into a coma. It would have been a very different story'

Janny Sikazwe sparked outrage by blowing the final whistle early not once, but twice, in the group stage match. He not only blew his whistle in the 85th minute, causing outrage on both sides, but he also called the game off before the clock reached 90 minutes.

Following the premature full-time whistle, CAF authorities urged the teams to re-enter the field and finish the game. However, Mali, who had a 1-0 lead, returned to the field, but Tunisia did not.

The North Africans lodged a formal protest with the Confederation of African Football, but it was denied, and the outcome remained.

Sikazwe was eventually rushed to the hospital after suffering from sunstroke, and the official has since claimed that 'he could've died' as a result of it.

"I have seen people going for duties outside the country and come back in a casket," he said.

"I was very close to coming back like that.”

"I was lucky I didn't go into a coma. It would have been a very different story.”

"The doctors told me my body was not cooling down. It would have been just a little time before [I would have gone] into a coma, and that would have been the end.”

"I think God told me to end the match. He saved me."

Sikazwe went to the hospital the day after Mali's disputed 1-0 victory against Tunisia for heart, blood, and physical testing. However, all of his findings were normal.