Zimbabwean referee Norman Matemera will not officiate at the 2018 African Nations Championships due to injury.

Matemera was part of a cast of top referees who converged for an elite course which was used by the Confederation of African Football on November 27 to December 2 to select the officials who will handle matches at the CHAN tournament in Morocco next month.

According to The Herald, the 35-year-old who did well in other departments of the course, pulled a muscle during a physical exercise and it will take at least five to six weeks to heal.

“Obviously I am very disappointed, but I also understand that it is part of the game,” said Matemera.

“I was disappointed, but nonetheless there is nothing I can do when the body has snapped, but there is room for next time and I am now seeing a physiotherapist as part of my recovery programme.”

Matemera is the only Zimbabwean on the CAF Elite B panel, which enables him to be considered for such competitions like the CHAN tournament. There is no local referee in Elite A, which deals with the Africa Cup of Nations.