DOUALA, Cameroon – The first woman to referee an African Cup of Nations match is confident it will soon become normal to see a female official in charge at the biggest men’s international tournament on the continent.
“This is a chance we have to start working hard and push. It’s just the beginning and after this AFCON maybe the next one will be on another level,” Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga told journalists in Douala.
She made history when she took charge of the Group B clash between Guinea and Zimbabwe in Yaounde earlier this week.
She was expected to be joined by two female assistant referees, Carine Atemzabong of Cameroon and Fatiha Jermoumi of Morocco.
However, when the officials entered the pitch for the match at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in the Cameroonian capital, both assistant referees were males.
The previous 32 editions of the flagship African tournament from 1957 were refereed exclusively by men.
Previously Mukansanga was the fourth official when Guinea defeated Malawi on January 10 in Bafoussam.
“We are here not because of a favour or by chance but because we deserved to be here,” she added at Friday’s event organised by the Confederation of African Football.
“It’s a privilege. It’s a pleasure for me and other African women referees,” she explained according to AFP.
“It’s an opportunity now to open the door and to show all women in Africa that they are capable and can reach that stage.”
She is part of the quartet selected as match officials in this AFCON since the competition was established.
The other women match officials are assistant referees Carine Atemzabong (Cameroon) and Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco) as well as VAR referee Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco).
On January 10, 2022, Mukansanga made history by becoming the first woman to officiate a match in AFCON when she was appointed as a fourth official in the game between Guinea and Malawi in Bafoussam.
CAF Head of Referees, Eddy Maillet said this historic moment is as a result of CAF’s clear commitment and investment to improve and advance the standard of refereeing in Africa. Part of this journey is the ‘Star Programme’ initiated by FIFA and CAF to develop referees.
Maillet said: “We are super proud of Salima because she has had to work exceptionally hard to be where she is today. We know that for a woman, she has had to overcome serious obstacles to reach this level and she deserves a lot of credit. This moment is not just for Salima but for every young girl in Africa who has passion for football and who sees herself as a referee in the future. “
Last November, FIFA and CAF signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that pioneered a new era in the advancement of professional refereeing in Africa.
The MoU was signed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe in Cairo, Egypt during the 13th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly.
The anchor of the agreement is Refereeing “Star Project” – an initiative that aims to produce world class referees from the African continent and also contribute towards the development of referees in the 54 CAF Member Associations.
FIFA President Infantino said: “Refereeing is such an important element of football. We have to professionalise and elevate the level of refereeing in Africa and ensure that we have the referees that are in the best conditions. This historic MoU is just an example of how FIFA and CAF can work together to raise the standards of the different aspects of football in this great continent.”
CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “Africa is embarking on a journey that will see this continent play a very impactful role in global football. We are clear; Africa must be the best and must produce the best; not just players, but administrators but also referees. We want to see African referees officiating in the FIFA World Cup finals and we want to see our match officials excelling. As CAF, we are fully backing the talent we have in Africa and the qualities of referees. With this partnership with FIFA, we are taking practical steps to move in that bold direction.”
FIFA Chairman of Referees, Pierluigi Collina made a presentation to the Extraordinary General Assembly on the FIFA ‘Refereeing Star Project.
