AFCON 2021: RWANDA REFEREE MUKANSANGA TO MAKE HISTORY IN ZIMBABWE VS GUINEA GAME

By Dennis Mabuka

Rwanda referee Salima Rhadia Mukansanga will make history as the first-ever woman’s referee to officiate in the Africa Cup of Nations in the match pitting Zimbabwe against Guinea on Tuesday. She  will be the centre referee when the Flames take on the Syli Nationale in their third Group B fixture on Tuesday

Mukansanga was the fourth official during the Malawi versus Guinea fixture, will now take full charge of the Group B clash at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

Caf has confirmed Mukansanga will be assisted by other women referees – assistant referees Carine Atemzabong (Cameroon) and Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco) as well as VAR referee Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco).

« Proud moment for Caf and Africa as the quartet prepare to make history on Tuesday, » Caf said in a statement on their official website. « Rwandan-born referee Salima Rhadia Mukansanga will make history in the next few hours when she becomes the first woman to referee a match at the finals of Afcon.

« Mukansanga, 35, will take charge of the group stage match between Zimbabwe and Guinea on Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT) at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.»

The statement continued: “She is part of the quartet selected as match officials at the match, making it the first time ever that an all-women team officiates a match at the Afcon tournament 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.»

Speaking on Mukansanga’s latest achievement, Caf Head of Referees, Eddy Maillet said this historic moment is a result of Caf’s clear commitment and investment to improve and advance the standard of refereeing in Africa.