Burundi referee Thierry Nkurunziza will be officiating at the first leg tie of the Caf Confederation Cup between Djoliba AC and Hearts of Oak in Mali on Friday.

The 31-year-old will be assisted by compatriots Jean Claude Birumushahu and Pascal Ndimunzigo.

Nkurunziza is not new to Ghanaian teams. He was in charge of the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier between Lesotho and Ghana at the Setsoto National Stadium in Maseru in 2013.

Hearts are yet to lose a match in the competition after edging past Togolese side A.S Police in the preliminary stage before progressing to the round of eight on a 3-2 aggregate over Senegalese representatives Olympique de Ngor.

The Phobians are the only surviving Ghanaian team in the continental competitions after Asante Kotoko were eliminated by Algerian side MC Eulma in the Caf Champions League a fortnight ago.

Djoliba however began their campaign in the first round eliminating Egyptian side Petrojet on a 2-1 aggregate.

Hearts are expected to leave for Mali on Wednesday. The second leg is scheduled for April 30 at the Accra Sports Stadium.