NPFL referee, Yemisi Akintoye, has been named among the 18 referees selected to officiate at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to take place in Morocco from July 5 to 26, www.aclsports.com reports.
Her selection, confirmed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marks a significant milestone in her career and serves as a proud moment for the Lagos State football referees’ council, where she honed her skills.
Akintoye is Nigeria’s sole match official at the tournament, a testament to her consistency, professionalism, and rising stature in African football officiating.
In May, she successfully completed an intensive WAFCON preparatory course in Cairo, Egypt, where referees were evaluated on technical knowledge, physical fitness, and in-game decision-making. Her performance earned her a coveted spot on the final officiating team.
She is an experienced campaigner in the NPFL, NWFL and CAF competitions; Yemisi Akintoye is respected for her calm and confident officiating in high-pressure matches. Her selection reflects CAF’s confidence in her ability to perform at the top level of African women’s football.
She joins a distinguished group of referees at WAFCON 2024, including Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi, renowned for her historic AFCON appearance, and Togo’s Amedome Vincentia, noted for her poise in critical games.
A total of 18 referees, 18 assistant referees, and 10 video assistant referees from across the continent have been appointed for the competition, ensuring a high standard of officiating at the continent’s top women’s football tournament.
As teams prepare for what promises to be a fiercely contested edition of WAFCON, attention will also turn to the officials tasked with upholding the integrity and flow of the game. For Akintoye, this appointment represents not only a personal milestone but also a symbol of the growing recognition of women’s roles in African football officiating.
Her journey continues to inspire a new generation of Nigerian referees and firmly establishes her among the continent’s finest.
