Shahenda El Maghraby appointed referee for Cameroon v Malawi Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final

Egyptian referee Shahenda El Maghraby has been appointed to take charge of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final between Cameroon and Malawi on Sunday evening.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed that the 35-year-old will lead the officiating team for the tournament’s showpiece match, marking her third consecutive appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

El Maghraby has previously refereed the bronze-medal match, which decides third place, at the 2022 and 2024 editions of the competition. She also served as the fourth official for the 2021 final.

Her appointment to the final represents another significant role in a tournament where she has continued to feature across successive editions. She will be supported by an international team of officials from across Africa.

Mauritian referee Quincy Victoire has been selected as the first assistant referee, while Tunisia’s Houda Afini will serve as the second assistant referee.

The full officiating team for the final is:

– Referee: Shahenda El Maghraby (Egypt) – Assistant referee 1: Quincy Victoire (Mauritius) – Assistant referee 2: Houda Afini (Tunisia) – Fourth official: Vicentia Enyonam (Togo) – Reserve assistant referee: Nafissatou Yekini Chitou (Benin) – Video assistant referee: Dorsaf Ganouati (Tunisia)

Cameroon reached the final after beating Morocco on penalties. The team is managed by French coach Dimitri Lipoff, the former manager of Al Ahly’s women’s side.

The appearance will be Cameroon’s fourth in a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final and their first since 2016. However, they have never won the women’s continental title.

The final will also guarantee a new champion in the competition, with Malawi reaching the decisive match for the first time in their history. Their progress means the tournament will produce a winner that has not previously lifted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

With Cameroon returning to the final after a long absence and Malawi competing at this stage for the first time, the match will provide a fresh contest for the title. El Maghraby’s selection completes the preparations for the fixture, with the Egyptian official set to oversee a final that will crown a new champion.