A Nigerian referee is celebrating a major continental milestone. Respected match official Yemisi Akintoye has been appointed as the high-stakes chief referee for tonight’s high-stakes 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final between Algeria and Malawi
The fairly anticipated arrival is set to take the field at the iconic Olympic Stadium in Rabat, with kick-off set for six o’clock Nigerian time.
The appointment represents a large vote of confidence from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) referees, cementing Akintoye’s role as the most effective fit official on the continent.
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Tonight’s semi-final marks the second time Akintoye will take center stage as the lead referee during WAFCON 2026.
The Nigerian referee earned big rewards for her calm authority, organizational discipline and top-notch situational awareness through her maiden initiative- the high-tempo Group A match between Senegal and Kenya on July 30 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
Akintoye started her first-ever WAFCON tournament as fourth official at some stage in the match-opener between Algeria and Kenya, displaying regular progress in the umpiring line-up to earn the coveted semi-final whistle.
