By Njoku Chijioke
Nigerian referee Yemisi Eunice Akintoye has been selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as one of the 18 match officials for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to hold in Morocco from July 5 to 26, 2025.
A FIFA badge holder since 2020 and a member of the Lagos State Football Referees Council, Akintoye’s appointment underscores her consistent excellence and rising profile in African football officiating.
Her selection follows an impressive showing at a rigorous preparatory course held in Cairo, Egypt, where she underwent technical assessments, physical fitness tests, and high-pressure decision-making evaluations simulating real match scenarios.
With experience in high-profile tournaments, Akintoye is well-prepared to handle the demands of officiating at WAFCON, which will feature the top women’s national teams on the continent.
Defending champions, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, and nine-time title holders, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, who are in Group B alongside Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria are among the major contenders.
Akintoye’s inclusion is not only a personal milestone but also a boost for Nigeria’s reputation in grooming elite female referees for international competitions.
