Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse and her assistants, Malawian Bernadettar Kwimbira and Nigerian Mimisen Iyorhe, became the first women to control a match at a senior CAF male tournament. The breakthrough came two years after women referees handled matches at the African under-23 and under-17 Cup of Nations tournaments. Tafesse, a former professional basketball player, tolerated no foul play as she yellow-carded three Tanzanians within 10 minutes during the second half. African male footballers often dispute decisions against them, but most accepted without hesitation the rulings of Tafesse at the Stade Omnisport in the southwestern coastal resort. CAF refereeing manager Eddy Maillet from the Seychelles was pleased as the trio created history eight days into the sixth edition of the Nations Championship. “The CHAN is the second most senior national team competition in the continent after the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said. “It is a wonderful platform for Lidya, Bernadettar and Mimisen to prove what they are capable of. They competed with male referees for places at this tournament and now they have made history,” he added.
SOURCE: VOA
More Stories
Angélique Kidjo & Ibrahim Maalouf on ‘Queen of Sheba’
Discovery of Embalming Workshop Reveals How Ancient Egyptians Mummified the Dead
On a Walking Safari in Zambia
theGrio Style Guide: A Glimpse Into the Robust African Fashion Industry
Top 5 African Cities Food Lovers Must Visit in 2023
SA’s First Black African Freediving Instructor On her Favourite Ocean Spots along Cape Town
Iemanjá Festival: Keeping the Afro-Brazilian Tradition Alive
African Travel and Tourism has Potential for Immense Growth
Dakar Hosts the First Africa Vegan Restaurant Week
Under the Hanging Tree Examines how Namibia’s Genocide Lives on Today
Under the Hanging Tree Examines how Namibia’s Genocide Lives on Today
Re-entry of Higher Capacity Aircraft on African Routes Shows Recovery of Hard Hit Travel Sector