Rwanda’s top female referee Salma Radia Mukansanga has been named on a 75-list of women match officials for FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. The Women’s World Cup runs June 7 through July 7 in Grenoble, Le Havre, Lyon, Montpellier, Nice, Paris, Reims, Rennes and Valenciennes. The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 27 referees and 48 assistant referees, representing 42 different countries, for the Women’s World Cup. The 28-year, arguably the best and most famous female referee the country has ever produced, was the sole African match official at the U17 Women’s World Cup. This time, she is one of the only three African 27 centre referees/support referees who will officiate at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup along with Gladys Lengwe of Zambia and Ethiopia’s Lidya Tafesse Abebe. She is also the only female centre referee in the ongoing 2018/2019 Azam Rwanda Premier League season. Other African referees on the 28 list of assistant referees include: Kwimbira Bernadettar (Malawi), Mary Njoroge (Kenya), Lidwine Rakotozafinoro (Madagascar) and Victoire Queency (Mauritius). FIFA has not yet committed to the same video review system used at the men’s World Cup in Russia. The decision is set to be taken on March 14-15 during FIFA Council meeting in Miami. A likely issue is potentially using male video assistant referees working with the all-female match official teams. editorial@newtimesrwanda.com
