Mukansanga to lead all-female officiating line-up at Cup of Nations

Meet Salima Mukansanga, the first woman set to referee an AFCON game [photo courtesy]

Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga will lead an all-female line-up of match officials at the Africa Cup of Nations encounter between Guinea and Zimbabwe on Tuesday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced.

It will be the first time only women will officiate a game at Africa’s flagship international tournament.

Mukansanga will take charge alongside assistants Carine Atemzabong from Cameroon and Fatiha Jermoumi of Morocco. The Video Assistant Referee will be another Moroccan, Bouchra Karboubi.

Mukansanga had been the fourth official in the clash between Guinea and Malawi on Jan. 10.

"She (Mukansanga) has had to overcome serious obstacles to reach this level and she deserves a lot of credit," CAF Head of Referees Eddy Maillet said in a statement.

"This moment is not just for Salima but for every young girl in Africa who has passion for football and who sees herself as a referee in the future."