Algeria’s Mehdi Abid Charef will be the knight of the whistle on Saturday when Ghana take on West African neighbours Mali in Group D of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars need a win to book a place in the next round of the tournament. The match kicks off at 1600GMT at the Stade de Port-Gentil in Gabon. The Algerian will be assisted by compatriot Abdelhak Etchiali and Mozambican Chadreque Marengula.
The 36-year-old referee was at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and officiated Cote d’Ivoire’s 1-1 draw with Guinea.
Saturday’s game will be his first at the 2017 edition. Meanwhile, Senegal’s Malang Diedhiou will officiate the second game of the day between Egypt and Uganda.
Both sides are hoping to win to stand a chance of making it out of the group. While Egypt drew on the first day, Uganda lost to Ghana and, so, will be the hungrier of the two.
A loss will see them out of the tournament, which they are returning to after 39 years of absence.
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