Felix Tangawarima made history as the first Zimbabwean referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2000, showcasing unwavering integrity by issuing the only red card of Jay-Jay Okocha’s international career during a tense quarter-final between Nigeria and Senegal. Born on March 23, 1958, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tangawarima built a remarkable three-decade career defined by discipline and fairness, retiring from active refereeing in 2003 after earning induction into FIFA’s international panel in 1988. Today, at 67, he serves as a senior Confederation of African Football (CAF) instructor and COSAFA referees’ manager, mentoring talents like South Africa’s Victor Gomes.
Tangawarima’s path to elite refereeing began locally in Zimbabwe, where his precise decision-making quickly elevated him to international status. His breakthrough at AFCON 2000 in Ghana and Nigeria solidified his reputation, as he navigated hostile crowds in Lagos without flinching from enforcing the rules.In the 54th minute of Nigeria’s quarter-final clash with Senegal, Tangawarima courageously red-carded Nigerian captain Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha for elbowing opponent Mbaye Badji, sparking stadium uproar but upholding the game’s laws. This fearless call, amid Super Eagles’ home support, marked him as a trailblazer and led directly to his selection for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he officiated Spain versus Chile.
Such poise under pressure defined his legacy as Zimbabwe’s finest referee. After retiring in 2003, Tangawarima transitioned seamlessly into education, becoming a CAF instructor in 2004 and later collaborating with FIFA by 2008 to train African officials. He earned eight Zimbabwean Referee of the Year awards and now leads as COSAFA’s referee manager, conducting VAR sessions and FIFA courses in Harare. His philosophy that referees are field leaders shaping fairness continues inspiring Zimbabwean talents like Brighton Chimene at recent AFCONs.
