VICTOR Gomes will again be the only South African referee to officiate an African Nations Cup qualifier on Saturday - as was the case in the previous round.

Gomes, assisted by Zakhele Siwela and Stevens Kumalo, will take charge of the match between Malawi and Algeria in Blantyrey.

Gomes, who was in hot water after some bizarre performances in the Premier Soccer League last season but has now toned down his eccentricity, last month handled the 3-0 home loss for Angola against Burkina Faso in Luanda.

The 31-year-old also took charge of matches in the preliminary knockout stages of the continental tournament and has handled a game in African club competition also this year.

He was recently placed on a shortlist of referees to start preparing for the next World Cup in Russia and now looks to be the best placed South African official for a chance at blowing at the next global showpiece.

Daniel Bennett was on the shortlist for the last tournament in Brazil but was only selected as a travelling reserve, and then had to pull out through injury.

He tore another calf muscle in July at the pre-South African season tests and is expected to run later this month again in a bid to prove his fitness so that he can get back on the PSL panel.