Despite Nigeria’s senior women’s national team absence from the semi-finals of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, the country will still have representation in the crucial stage of the competition, with referee Yemisi Eunice Akintoye appointed to officiate the Algeria versus Malawi clash scheduled for today.
Akintoye’s opportunity to progress further in the tournament opened after she survived the round of match officials sent home following the preliminary and knockout stages.
Her appointment has been welcomed as another significant recognition for Nigerian refereeing on the international stage.
Acting President of the Nigeria Football Referees’ Association (NFRA), Sir Kelechi Mejuobi, described Akintoye’s latest achievement as another milestone in the record books of Nigeria’s refereeing history.
According to Mejuobi, Akintoye’s recent exploits are clear evidence of a new vista of opportunities for Nigerian referees on the international scene.
“On behalf of the referees’ body in Nigeria, I wish Yemisi the very best of luck in today’s match,” Mejuobi said, expressing confidence in her ability to deliver a strong performance.
Akintoye’s appointment has further underlined the growing presence and recognition of Nigerian match officials at major continental competitions.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.
In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
