Rwanda’s Salima Rhadia Mukansanga on Tuesday, January 18 rewrote the course of history as the first woman to referee an Africa Cup of Nations match.
The 35-year-old officiated the Group B clash between Guinea and Zimbabwe at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.
Earlier on 10 January 2022, Mukansanga had made history in this edition of the tournament held in Cameron, after she was named a fourth referee in Guinea’s 1-0 victory over Malawi
According to CAF Head of Referees, Eddy Maillet, in a statement said the historic moment was as a result of CAF’s clear commitment and investment to improve and advance the standard of refereeing in Africa.
Maillet told CAFOnline, “We are super proud of Salima because she has had to work exceptionally hard to be where she is today. We know that as 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.”
