Nigerian referee Yemisi Akintoye has been officially 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.
Her appointment, confirmed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marks a major milestone in her officiating career and brings pride to the Lagos State Football Referees’ Council, where she developed her refereeing skills.
Akintoye will represent Nigeria as the country’s sole match official at the tournament—an acknowledgment of her consistency, professionalism, and growing reputation within African football.
In preparation for the tournament, she successfully completed an intensive training course in May in Cairo, Egypt, which assessed referees on technical competence, physical fitness, and decision-making. Her strong performance secured her place on WAFCON’s final officiating team.
A familiar face in the NPFL, NWFL, and CAF competitions, Akintoye is known for her composed and confident handling of high-stakes matches. Her inclusion in the WAFCON team reflects CAF’s trust in her ability to deliver at the highest level of women’s football on the continent.
She joins a distinguished lineup of referees, including Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi—who made history at AFCON—and Togo’s Amedome Vincentia, celebrated for her performance in crucial matches.
In total, CAF has appointed 18 referees, 18 assistant referees, and 10 video assistant referees to ensure high standards of officiating at this year’s WAFCON.
As the tournament approaches, attention will not only be on the competing teams but also on the officials responsible for upholding the integrity of the game. Akintoye’s appointment stands as both a personal achievement and a beacon of progress for women in African football officiating, inspiring the next generation of Nigerian referees.
