Kenyan referee Wanjiku to officiate at upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations

Center referee Josephine Wanjiku issue a warning card to Steve Otieno of Nzoia Sugar during FkF Premier league match against AFC Leopards at the Nyayo National stadium on Sunday, March 3rd, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] Kenya's FIFA referee Josephine Wanjiku has been selected to officiate at the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) that will be held in Morocco from July 5 to July 26. This is another big achievement for Wanjiku, who continues to rise in her refereeing career both in Africa and beyond. Wanjiku, who is one of only two Kenyan FIFA centre referees alongside Juma Lucy Awino, will represent Kenya as one of the 18 centre referees appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the tournament. She is also the only Kenyan in the entire group of 46 referees, which includes centre referees, assistant referees, and video match officials (VMOs). Her latest appointment comes after taking part in several international assignments. In April this year, Wanjiku served as the fourth official during the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifier between Guinea and Ivory Coast. She has also officiated in matches of the CAF Women's Champions League, showing her steady growth at the continental level. Earlier this year, she was invited to a FIFA seminar for prospective referees held from March 3 to March 7 in Doha, Qatar, where she was once again the only Kenyan participant. In preparation for WAFCON, Wanjiku joined other officials for a CAF preparation course that took place in Cairo, Egypt, from May 25 to May 29. Out of the 59 match officials who attended, only eight were from East Africa, with Wanjiku being Kenya's sole representative. Wanjiku will join eight other referees from East Africa who were selected for the tournament. These include fellow centre referees Aline Umutoni from Rwanda, Shamirah Nabadda from Uganda, and Sauvis Iratunga from Burundi. Assistant referees from East Africa include Alice Umutesi (Rwanda), Fides Bangourabona (Burundi), and Kanjiga Mireille (DRC). In the video match officials category, Rwanda's Salima Rhadia Mukansanga and Sudan's Abdalaziz Yasir Ahmed will also fly the East African flag. Morocco, who will host the tournament, has the highest number of referees, with five officials selected, including two centre referees, two assistant referees, and one VMO. The full list of referees features top officials from across the continent. Among them are Twanyanyukwa Antsino (Namibia), Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco), Amedome Vincentia (Togo), Ganouati Dorsaf (Tunisia), Shahenda Saad Ali Elmaghrabi (Egypt), Akhona Makalima (South Africa), and Eunice Akintoye Yemisi (Nigeria), among others. The tournament will also have experienced assistant referees like Diana Chikotesha (Zambia), Fathia Jermoumi (Morocco), and Yekini Nafissatou Shitou (Benin). The list of video match officials includes highly experienced names such as Maria Rivet (Morocco), Letticia Viana (Eswatini), Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria), Babacar Sarr (Mauritania), Ghislain Pierre Atcho (Gabon), Daniel Lareya (Ghana), and Haggag Hossam (Egypt). WAFCON 2025 is expected to attract huge attention as the top women's national teams from Africa battle for the continental crown. The tournament will not only showcase the best female football talent on the pitch but also give referees like Wanjiku a stage to prove their expertise at the highest level. For Wanjiku, this opportunity is another sign of her growing reputation as one of Africa's top referees. Her presence at WAFCON will also be a proud moment for Kenya, as she carries the country's flag among the continent's best match officials.

Kenyan referee Wanjiku to officiate at upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations

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