AFCON 2023: Profiles of the 5 female referees who will officiate
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 tournament kicking off on January 13 will feature five female officials.
Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)
Salima Mukansanga was the first African woman to officiate at the men’s AFCON 2022 in Cameroon.
The certified nurse also officiated at the Olympics, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Africa Women Cup of Nations, and the CAF Women’s Champions League. In 2022, she was one of three female referees selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
She will serve as a VAR referee.
Karboubi Bouchra (Morocco)
Bouchra is the only female who listed as a lead referee at the tournament.
She was chosen by the FIFA in 2020 to officiate in the Women’s World Cup 2023 match between US and Vietnam.
Bouchra passed a physical test to arbitrate men’s matches in 2014 and became an international referee two years later. She is also a police inspector.
Akhona Makalima (South Africa)
Makalima was appointed for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. She was the first certified female football referee in South Africa.
She will serve as a VAR referee in Côte d’Ivoire.
Rivet Maria Pakuita Cinquela (Mauritius)
Rivet will be one of only three female referees in the VAR room alongside Salima Mukansanga and Akhona Makalima.
She was the fourth official for the 2022 Women’s AFCON final between South Africa and Morocco. She was among match officials selected to officiate women’s football matches at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)
Diana Chikotesha will become the first Zambian female referee to take part in the men’s AFCON tournament. She also featured in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
She will officiate in matches as an assistant referee.
