CAF Women's Leage
CAF Women’s Champions League 2024: A Historic All-Female Refereeing Team
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has announced the list of referees for the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, which will be held in Morocco from 9 to 23 November.
This edition marks a groundbreaking moment in African football history, as, for the first time, all match officials, including Video Assistant Referees (VAR), are exclusively women.
To prepare the selected referees for the demands of the competition, CAF designed a special training programme focused on VAR, including the VAR Academy for the match officials.
This programme allowed the referees to undergo comprehensive training and refine their skills under the guidance of experienced instructors, enhancing both their technical and mental readiness for the tournament.
The list of centre referees and assistant referees represents the geographical diversity of Africa, with officials hailing from over 15 countries.
This diversity is crucial as it strengthens the capacity of each region in the field of women’s refereeing.
Selected Referees for the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League
Centre Referees:
- Shahenda Saad Ali Elmaghrabi (Egypt)
- Suavis Iratunga (Burundi)
- Twanyanyukwa Antsino (Namibia)
- Natcha Geraldine Konan Akissi (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Gloria Sambumba (Zambia)
- Aline Guimbang Etong (Cameroon)
- Umutoni Aline (Rwanda)
- Zouwaira Souley Sani (Niger)
- Sabah Sadir (Morocco)
- Josephine Wanjiku (Kenya)
- Awa Alphonsine Ornella Ilboudo (Burkina Faso)
- Samassa Yacine (Mauritania)
Assistant Referees:
- Karima Khadiri (Morocco)
- Afine Houda (Tunisia)
- Ouahab Asma Feriel (Algeria)
- Mariem Chedad (Mauritania)
- Kanjinga Mireille (DR Congo)
- Nafissatou Yekini Shitou (Benin)
- Sakina Hamidou Alfa (Niger)
- Fides Bangurambona (Burundi)
- Kourouma Mahawa (Guinea)
- Hannah Lydia Moses (Liberia)
- Umutesi Alice (Rwanda)
- Tabara Mbodji (Senegal)
VAR Referees:
- Maria Rivet (Mauritius)
- Letticia Viana (Eswatini)
- Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)
- Salma Mukasanga (Rwanda)
- Akhona Makalima (South Africa)
- Amedome Vicencia (Togo)
- Ganouati Dorsaf (Tunisia)
- Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco)
- Chicotesha Diana (Zambia)
- Atezambong Carine (Cameroon)
Miracle Usani is the sole Edo Queen player in the CAF Women’s Champions League Best XI, which was announced on Monday.
The Best XI selection highlights the top-performing players of the tournament. It is compiled by the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG), which includes football analysts, coaches, and technical advisors.
The Best XI features four players from debutants FC Masar which placed third in the final ranking.
Four players are selected from Champions TP Mazembe and two from runners-up AS FAR of Morocco.
In goal is FC Masar’s Habiba Sabry, whose acrobatic saves and commanding presence earned her the title of Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
The central defense is solidified by Shadia Nankya and Aisha Nantongo from FC Masar.
The full-back positions are occupied by Miracle Usani of Edo Queens on the left and Vukulu Belange of TP Mazembe on the right.
TP Mazembe’s Marline Kasaj anchors the midfield, providing exceptional support during their title run.
The attacking midfield duo features AS FAR’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Sandrine Nyonkuru of FC Masar, adding creativity and flair to the line-up.
The attacking trio is led by the tournament’s top scorer, Doha El Madani (ASFAR), on the right, with TP Mazembe’s Lacho Marta on the left, and Merveille Kanjinga (TP Mazembe) as the central striker.
CAF Women’s Champions League Best XI:
GOALKEEPER
- Habiba Emad Sabry (FC Masar)
DEFENDERS
- Miracle Usani (Edo Queens)
- Shadia Nankya (FC Masar)
- Aisha Nantongo (FC Masar)
- Vukulu Belange (TP Mazembe)
MIDFIELDERS
- Marline Kasaj (TP Mazembe)
- Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR)
- Sandrine Nyonkuru (FC Masar)
FORWARDS
- Doha El Madani (AS FAR)
- Merville Kanjinga (TP Mazembe)
- Lacho Marta (TP Mazembe)
Edo Queens lost in the third-placed match with Egypt’s FC Masar after a penalty shoot-out. The Egyptians won 5-3 after a goalless draw.
As it happened when both teams met in the group stage, full-time scores remained 0-0. It was obvious the Edo Queens were deficient in penalty kick shooting as they had earlier lost one in their encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns.
The technical crew probably did not reckon with penalty kick training.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s flagbearers, the Edo Queen will make their final appearance at the 2024 CAF Women’s League this Friday when they take on FC Masar of Egypt in the third-place match.
A win will not only fetch them the bronze medal, but an increased financial gain from $300,000 to $350,000. By the current exchange rate, this is N589,284,600.
A chunk of this will undoubtedly improve their living standards and also fetch some of the players better offers from foreign clubs.
Already, their good run has led to some of the players emerging as nominees at next month’s CAF Awards in Morocco. Monle Oyono is nominated along with Super Falcon’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie as contender for the African Woman’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
So also is Emem Essien seeking to win the Women’s version of the Interclub Player of the Year Award. Their coach, Moses Adukwu is not also left out as he is nominated for the Women’s Coach of the Year category.
Edo Queens is among the eight shortlisted for the Club of the Year. A defeat of FC Masar of Egypt in the third-place match will improve their honours chase.
Both teams met at the group stage and played a barren draw. A winner must emerge this Friday as both teams aim for a pdium finish.
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