SOUTH Africa will have two virtually unknown referees in charge of their next two matches at a time when there is a stark spotlight on officials in African competitions.

The Ghanaian William Agbovi, with nine years of international experience, takes charge of tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic in neutral Yaounde.

Mohamed Farouk of Egypt, aged 43 and on the list of Fifa-accredited referees since 2006, will officiate over Bafana Bafana's key meeting with Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on June 16.

Neither of the referees are from the "A" list of officials on the Confederation of African Football's panel but both have many years of international experience.

But the positive is neither have been involved in any major controversies in their careers to date.

Agbovi was punched two years in a Ghana Premier League game when a supporter invaded the pitch after he disallowed an effort by the home side.

Meanwhile, South Africa's Daniel Bennett and Zakhele Siwela have been appointed to take charge of the qualifier between Morocco and Tanzania also tomorrow.

The pair are assisted by Kenyan linesman Marwa Range. Together the trio form one of the seven candidate teams from Africa who are shortlisted for 2014 World Cup selection.

The match in Marrakech is the first international assignment for Bennett since the debacle of the African Nations Cup finals early this year when he made some outrageous decisions in the match between Togo and Tunisia and got removed from the tournament.

Bennett and Siwela are the only South Africans shortlisted for the World Cup in Brazil.