The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is billed to start on January 13 - February 11 in Cote d'Ivoire.

The Confederation of Africa Football has called up 26 Referees, 30 Assistant Referees and 12 Video Assistant Referees from across the Continent.

Despite not having a referee at the tournament, the Super Eagles are aiming for a 4th title push.

Meet the five women referees who will be at the Competition

BOUCHRA KARBOUBI (Morocco)
She set a personal milestone in 2020 when she became the first female referee in the Arab World to oversee a match in Morocco's top-tier men's professional football league, the Botola Pro1 between Olympic club of Khouribga (OCK) and Moghreb Athletic of Tetouan (MAT).

Karboubi also made headlines in 2022 after she became the first female referee to officiate the Morocco’s Throne Cup final between the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces club (AS FAR Rabat) and Moghreb Tetouan.

She was in-charge of the VAR room in the historic all-women's referee team that officiated for the first time at the AFCON in the Group game between Zimbabwe v Guinea in January 2022. Karboubi was part of the arbitration team assigned to lead the VAR zone alongside other referees in the finals of the 2022 AFCON.

She began refereeing in the first and second Moroccan women's divisions at the age of 19.

Born in Taza, Northern Morocco; the 36yo Karboubi joined a refereeing school in 2001, was appointed national referee in 2007 and later amongst the referees of Elite A category inside the CAF and officiated matches in the final stages of the Women's African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the same year in 2018.

In 2014, she passed a physical test to arbitrate men's matches. Two years later, she became an international referee.

She was lead referee at the FIFA Women's World Cup held at Australia/New Zealand in July/August 2023.

The mother of one is also a Police Inspector at the Prefectural Directorate of the Judicial Police of the Meknes Police Headquarters in Morocco.

SHE IS THE ONLY FEMALE LEAD REFEREE FOR THE AFCON 2023.

SALIMA MUKANSANGA (Rwanda)

She needs no introduction. She was 4th official when Guinea defeated Malawi on January 10, 2022.

Mukansanga is the first female to oversee a game at the men"s AFCON since inception in 1957. She achieved this feat on 18th Jan in the first all-women referee team in the Zimbabwe-Guinea game.

She has officiated at the Olympics, FIFA Women's World Cups in 2019 & 2023, Africa Women Cup of Nations and CAF Women's Champions League.

In 2022 she was one of three women referees selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup hosted in Qatar, making her the first female African to officiate at the men's FIFA World Cup. She was the fourth official when France, the defending champions, defeated Australia 4–1.

She is listed as one of the VAR referees at the AFCON 2023.

AKHONA ZENNITH MAKALIMA (South Africa)
The 35yo is the first certified female soccer referee in South Africa, where she officiates for FIFA, the Premier Soccer League, the SASOL Women’s League, CAF Champions Leagie, Africa Women's Cup of Nations and the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Akhona uses her position as a women’s sports pioneer to encourage and influence young South African women to participate in sports at all levels.

She earned a national diploma in human resource management from King Hintsa FET College.

She is listed as one of the VAR referees at the AFCON 2023.

RIVET MARIA PAKUITA CINQUELA (Mauritius)
She was one of the VAR referees at the Tokyo2020 Olympics.

She was the 4th Official at the final of the Africa Women's Cup of Nations in 2022.

She also was in-charge of VAR in the Africa Superleague match between Wyad Casablanca v Enyimba in October 2023.

Rivet was the centre-referee when the Super Falcons lost their S/final game in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations to host, Morocco in 2022.

She was one of the VAR referees at the 2023 CAF Super Cup final between USM Alger and Al Ahly.

She is listed as one of the Video Assistant Referees for the AFCON 2023 tournament.

DIANA CHIKOTESHA (Zambia)
Chikotesha was one of the referees at the 2022 FIFA Women's U20 World Cup in Costa Rica.

She also participated at the 2022 Africa Women's Nations Cup (WAFCON).

She was one of the Assistant Referees at the FIFA Women's World Cup held at Australia/New Zealand in 2023 and also was at the centre in the CAF Women's Champions League last year.

She also officiated at the U23 Men's CHAN Competition. She was in-charge of the VAR at the CAF Women's Cup final in 2022. She obtained her FIFA badge on 2014.

Chikotesha is a FIFA-badged referee and is one of the 30 Assistant Referees for the AFCON 2023.

Nice one, but no Nigerian female referee among them

They might not include a Nigerian female referee thinking she'll be expecting bribe.
It's like Nigeria needs to change its name… the name has lost all value and respect globally online.

When any foreigner hears the name, "Nigeria", it seems you're referring to a land of criminals, but in the real sense, Nigeria is not that bad as portrayed online.

Earlystar698:
See nyash for South Africa own

If I ask you the colour of her socks now you won't remember.

Agba balling bannies.....

See as dem thick finish

Another avenue to distract our unserious super eagles not to qualify out of the group stage

God1000:
Nice one, but why no Nigerian female referee among them

transportation too expensive

Ok

stanliwise:
transportation too expensive

which transportation

While a strong wing of women football is canvassing for all round exodus of men from their footballing business, men keep including them in theirs.

The power wey women get for this life ehn, e strong.

Where re our Female referees?

I guess they were not found worthy because of corruption.....

Before person go collect bribe go give penalty for foul wey happen for outside 18.

We no go gree, imagine Osimhen in front of goal and this South African woman carry this thing pass him front.
Super Eagles wey we just dey patch if them go fit cross first round 🙄

Abeg, make that Moroccan or South African no ref our match o

How does that becomes an issue ?

we Nigerians and entitlement mentality !

No wonder the whole world know us .

God1000:
Nice one, but no Nigerian female referee among them

See nyash for South Africa own

Sonnobax15:

Agba balling bannies.....

See as dem thick finish

Another avenue to distract our unserious super eagles not to qualify out of the group stage

Hahahahaha

See your mentality ?

ogashman:
Where re our Female referees?

I guess they were not found worthy because of corruption.....

Before person go collect bribe go give penalty for foul wey happen for outside 18.

V

The giant of Africa 🌍 refrees are missing 😆

The South African refree will be the talk of the day.

Coss......

God1000:
Nice one, but no Nigerian female referee among them

Nigeria no even get male ref

Make I hear say any Nigerian referee dey there. Our standards are terribly low in every area. Same with male football.....CAF hardly reason Nigerian referees. Is it with this thuggery that happens every weekend in our local leaques? Just watch the South African league and you will see the difference between decency and crudism; modernity and backwardness. The crowds that attends matches in South African league makes the league interesting. Majority of those that enters stadium to watch Nigerian league are people on the streets, looking for avenue to while away time.

At times,one feel so ashamed of being a Nigerian.
I mean, Rwanda, Mauritius!!!!!!!
These ain't football strong countries nah...

But Nigeria!!!!

Now I've been home all day today and guess what,no fkn power all day!!!!!!

Naija should be dissolved at once.
This country is just something else

God1000:
Nice one, but no Nigerian female referee among them

If u ask me na who I go ask na But wait ooo u see that S/A referee?

Sonnobax15:

Agba balling bannies.....

See as dem thick finish

Another avenue to distract our unserious super eagles not to qualify out of the group stage

Side attractions

Sonnobax15:

Agba balling bannies.....

See as dem thick finish

Another avenue to distract our unserious super eagles not to qualify out of the group stage

stopeet, lol

Countries that doesn't have a name when it comes to football ranking are having candidates. Fierce competiting football countries are no where to be found. Definitely, you can't go to your right side and left side at the same time.