Moroccan referee Bouchra Karboubi expressed her joy at officiating a match in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, becoming the first woman to be honored with such a distinction.
In an interview with the official website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Karboubi affirmed her happiness at being given the privilege to officiate the Nigeria vs. Guinea-Bissau match.
This historic moment not only reflects a personal achievement for her but also stands as a testament to the capabilities of African women in general.
It will instill greater confidence in her to continue working towards enhancing her skills in the future.
“This match was a great honor for me. In the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, I was the first woman to officiate using video technology, and I was in the final.
In this edition of the tournament, I was the main referee. It’s an honor for me to represent African women and officiating in Africa,” said the Moroccan referee.
She continued, “The Guinea-Bissau vs. Nigeria match posed a significant challenge for me.
We, myself and my all-female assistant team, had to show our strength of character and our ability to balance the game without errors.
Thankfully, I believe we did our utmost, and we lived up to the confidence that the CAF Referees Committee had in us.”
Addressing the next generation of female referees, Karboubi delivered a message, stating, “I would say to young girls who have a passion, who have a goal, to work and not to give up because every path has its own challenges, and we must not give up.
We must continue, and, God willing, we can reach where we want.”
