As Zambia gears up to face Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F match, 30-year-old Gabonese Referee Tanguy Patrice Mebiame has reportedly been appointed as the referee in charge of officiating the game scheduled for kickoff at 22:00 hours tonight. This decision has stirred mixed emotions among Zambian football fans, given the historical tensions with Gabonese referees which stem from the controversial decisions made by Gabonese referee Jean-Fidèle Diramba in 1993, following a World Cup qualification match against Morocco. Diramba's actions in the match against Morocco in the aftermath of the Gabon air crash left a lasting impact on Zambia's football history. Fans attributed Zambia's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup to the referee's questionable decisions and expressed their discontent through street protests in Lusaka and a government delegation traveling to FIFA headquarters in Zurich. As Zambia braces for tonight's crucial encounter, anxiety lingers over the possibility of a repeat of history. The match holds immense significance for the Chipolopolo, acting as a make-or-break moment in their AFCON journey. Fans fear that the past may haunt them again and impact their chances of advancing in the tournament. As the teams face each other at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since their 1-1 draw in 1998, Zambia is banking on a favorable result from the Atlas Lions to bolster their chances of progressing to the AFCON knockout stage.