CAF names Nigerian referee Yemisi Akintoye for WAFCON 2026 in Morocco

The Confederation of African Football has named Nigerian referee Yemisi Akintoye among the match officials for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host from July 26 to August 16. Akintoye earned her FIFA badge in 2021 and secured the appointment after passing CAF's medical, physical fitness and technical assessments. This will be her first time officiating at Africa's premier women's tournament. The Super Falcons, defending champions, are set to play their group stage matches in Rabat, where Akintoye may also be assigned.

Her selection highlights Nigeria's growing influence in African football officiating and gives the country a representative on the continental stage beyond the players. For fans, it means a chance to see a Nigerian official oversee high-stakes matches that could decide the continent's champion and World Cup qualifiers.

Will Akintoye's presence inspire more Nigerian women to pursue refereeing careers, and how might her performance influence perceptions of African referees on the global stage?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/10/wafcon-2026-caf-names-nigerias-akintoye-among-referees/