Yemisi Akintoye makes history as Nigeria’s sole referee representative at WAFCON 2025

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the list of match officials selected for the upcoming 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will be hosted in Morocco from July 5 to 26.

Online media sources reveal that among the 46 officials named for the tournament, Nigeria’s Eunice Akintoye Yemisi stands out as the only representative from her country, marking a significant milestone in her officiating career.

Yemisi joins 17 other central referees who will be responsible for officiating matches in what is expected to be the largest and most inclusive edition of WAFCON so far.

This year’s tournament will feature a total of 46 match officials, an increase from the 40 appointed during the 2022 edition.

The full panel comprises 18 referees, 18 assistant referees, and 10 Video Assistant Referees (VARs), representing 30 different African nations.

Yemisi’s selection is a notable achievement for Nigeria and highlights the country’s growing presence in the officiating arena at the continental level.

Her participation reinforces Nigeria’s reputation not just as a powerhouse in African women’s football but also in officiating.

She will work alongside several high-profile referees, including Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi.

Karboubi recently officiated at the men’s Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire and is also scheduled to feature in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Another experienced official in the lineup is Rwanda’s Salima Rhadia Mukansanga, who officiated the WAFCON 2022 final and returns this year in the role of a VAR official.

For the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Yemisi’s appointment is a proud moment.

Her presence on such a significant stage serves as inspiration to other Nigerian referees, particularly women, who are seeking to make their mark in international football.

Below is a breakdown of the appointed match officials for the 2024 WAFCON:

REFEREES
Twanyanyukwa Antsino (Namibia)

Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

Aline Umutoni (Rwanda)

Amedome Vincentia (Togo)

Ganouati Dorsaf (Tunisia)

Ghada Mehat (Algeria)

Akissi Konan Natacha Gerardine (Côte d’Ivoire)

Shahenda Saad Ali Elmaghrabi (Egypt)

Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda)

Akhona Makalima (South Africa)

Samassa Yacine (Mauritania)

Suavis Iratunga (Burundi)

Sadir Sabah (Morocco)

Josephine Wanjiku (Kenya)

Aline Guimbang Etong (Cameroon)

Eunice Akintoye Yemisi (Nigeria)

Awa Alphonsine O. Ilboudo (Burkina Faso)

Aminata Fullah (Sierra Leone)

ASSISTANT REFEREES
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)

Fathia Jermoumi (Morocco)

Alice Umutesi (Rwanda)

Yekini Nafissatou Shitou (Benin)

Afine Houda (Tunisia)

Ouahab Asma Feriel (Algeria)

Tabara Mbodji (Senegal)

Yara Atef (Egypt)

Kourouma Mahawa (Guinea)

Atezambong Fomo Carine (Cameroon)

Mariem Chedad (Mauritania)

Fides Bangourabona (Burundi)

Ishsane Nouajli (Morocco)

Sakina Hamidou Alfa (Niger)

Fanta Idrissa Kone (Mali)

Kanjinga Mireille (DR Congo)

Nancy Kasitu (Zambia)

Hannah Lydia Moses (Liberia)

VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREES (VARs)
Maria Rivet (Morocco)

Letticia Viana (Eswatini)

Salima Rhadia Mukansanga (Rwanda)

Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)

Abdalaziz Yasir Ahmed (Sudan)

Babacar Sarr (Mauritania)

Ghislain Pierre Atcho (Gabon)

Daniel Lareya (Ghana)

Abdulrazg Ahmed (Libya)

Haggag Hossam (Egypt)

The upcoming tournament not only promises high-level football action but also showcases the growing professionalism and inclusivity in African refereeing.

The presence of top-tier officials like Eunice Yemisi highlights CAF’s commitment to elevating officiating standards and encouraging broader representation across the continent.

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