Only a few hours to go before the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations kicks off in Côte d'Ivoire from January 13 to February 11. To ensure the success of this event, the 68 referees appointed by CAF must be beyond reproach. At a press conference, CAF President Patrice Motsepe reiterated the responsibilities of the men in black. "I had a meeting with the referees yesterday. Our African referees are doing very well. On the question of impartiality, independence and quality, we are striving to ensure that our referees are world-class. I'm going to salute them and give them courage. We are investing to ensure that the quality of our referees is on a par with the rest of the world," confided Patrice Motsepe.