Rwanda’s Mukansanga set to make history at the big AFCON stage

CECAFA’s top female referee Salima Rhadia Mukansanga will make history at the big stage of TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 when she officiates a match this evening as the centre referee.

Mukansanga, from Rwanda will become the first female referee to officiate in an AFCON when she takes charge of a a Group B match between Zimbabwe and Guinea at the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon.

The 35-year old experienced referee will be in-charge together with other female assistants; Carine Atemzabong (Cameroon) and Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco) as well as VAR referee Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco).

Eddy Maillet, the CAF head of referees said that Salima has worked hard to get to where she is. “It is a proud moment for Africa to have women take charge of an AFCON match,” said Maillet.

Mukansanga has officiated at several competitions including the Olympics and the recent inaugural TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League held in Cairo, Egypt.

The AFCON 2021 that kicked off on January 9th in Cameroon enters Day 10 today with two Group B matches on card. The CECAFA region has been represented by Ethiopia and Sudan.