South Africa’s female referees make history at Women’s Africa Cup of Nations

South African referee Akhona Makalima and assistant referee Maneo Tau have been entrusted with the opening match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, underlining the country’s growing influence in elite women’s officiating.

The pair took charge of the tournament’s first fixture between Algeria and Senegal, placing South African match officials at the centre of one of the biggest events in African football.

For Makalima, the appointment represents another significant achievement in a career spanning more than a decade. She has helped challenge long-held perceptions of female referees in South African football and is now regarded as one of the continent’s most respected officials.

But the latest recognition is also evidence that Makalima is no longer an isolated pioneer.

Together with Tau, she represents the progress of a development pathway producing a new generation of South African female officials capable of earning appointments at Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fifa competitions.

That progress reached another important stage earlier this year when Hloniphile Msezane was awarded her Fifa referee badge after advancing through SAFA’s female development programme.

Assistant referee Nandipha Menze has also enjoyed a breakthrough season. She was named South Africa’s Assistant Referee of the Year for the 2025-26 campaign, recognition for several years of consistently strong performances on the national panel.

Makalima and Tau’s continued involvement at major continental tournaments has strengthened South Africa’s reputation, while the emergence of Msezane and Menze suggests the country is developing more than a handful of individual success stories.

Instead, it is building a sustainable group of female referees and assistant referees with the experience and preparation required to operate at the highest level.

Makalima is known for her calm authority, fitness and ability to manage high-pressure matches. Her regular international appointments have established her as a leading official, while Tau has built a reputation as one of Africa’s top assistant referees through a series of assignments on the international stage.

Their presence in Morocco reflects both their individual quality and the steady improvement of South Africa’s system for developing elite female match officials.

SAFA believes that success is supported by a wider network behind the public figures. Technical instructors, match assessors and administrators all contribute to the preparation of officials for the demands of top-level football.

Their work includes fitness programmes, performance analysis, interpretation of the laws of the game, mentoring and psychological support.

That investment is beginning to produce visible results. Where Makalima once stood as a lone trailblazer, South Africa now has a growing pool of female officials capable of representing the country in CAF and Fifa competitions.

The development of that pool is particularly significant as women’s football continues to expand across Africa. The performances and appointments of South African officials show that the country’s influence extends beyond the players competing on the pitch.

Makalima and Tau continue to carry that representation at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, while Msezane and Menze build on important achievements at home.

Their progress provides the next generation with a clear route into the international game, demonstrating that the whistle can be as powerful a symbol of progress as the shirt.