South African referee Akhona Makalima has been selected as one of the 40 match officials for the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON), which is set to take place in Morocco. The tournament, which has become one of the continent’s most highly anticipated football events, will run from July 1 to July 23, 2024. This year’s competition promises to be a milestone for African women’s football, and the inclusion of top-tier match officials underscores the growing professionalism in the sport.
Leading the list of referees is Rwandan Salima Mukansanga, who has made history in recent years. She became the first woman to officiate a match at the prestigious 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, and in a groundbreaking achievement, she was the only African female referee selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Her accomplishments are a testament to the strides women referees are making in what has traditionally been a male-dominated arena. Mukansanga’s recognition highlights the increasing opportunities for women in football officiating at the highest levels.
Other notable names on the list include Morocco’s Bouchkra Karboubi and Cameroon’s Carine Atezambong, who were also part of the historic 2021 AFCON. These women have played pivotal roles in the advancement of officiating standards across the continent and are setting powerful examples for the next generation of African women referees.
CAF’s Director of Refereeing, Eddy Maillet, acknowledged the significant progress made in the development of women referees, stating that Africa has “made serious leaps” in this area. He also emphasized the importance of quality officiating, noting that the final list includes some of the continent’s best match officials. Maillet further revealed that in preparation for the competition, a comprehensive referee training course would be held from June 25, 2024, in Rabat to fine-tune the officials’ skills and ensure they are fully prepared for the tournament.
The selection of these officials, which includes 16 referees, 16 assistant referees, and eight Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials from 24 countries, follows a rigorous selection process. This reflects CAF’s ongoing commitment to improving the standard of refereeing and ensuring a high-quality and fair competition at the AWCON.
