Experience at the Core of the Historic 2026 Women’s AFCON Final

On August 16, 2026, the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations final will showcase the importance of experience, as Egyptian referee Shahenda Saad Ali Elmaghrabi has been appointed as the central official for the much-anticipated match between Cameroon and Malawi. Scheduled to take place at 19:00 GMT at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, this match marks a significant milestone in women's football.

At just 35 years old, Elmaghrabi is set to officiate her third consecutive Women’s AFCON, having previously refereed the third-place matches in the 2022 and 2024 editions held in Morocco. Her extensive experience extends beyond the AFCON; she has also been involved in every edition of the prestigious CAF Women’s Champions League, serving as the fourth official in the inaugural final in 2021. Notably, on August 30, 2022, she made history as the first woman to officiate as a central referee in the Egyptian men’s league, during a match between Smouha and Pharco.

Elmaghrabi will be supported by a highly skilled and international officiating team for this final, reflecting CAF's commitment to competence, neutrality, and technical excellence. The officiating team includes:

  • Central Referee: Shahenda Saad Ali Elmaghrabi (Egypt)
  • Assistant Referee 1: Queency Victoire (Mauritius)
  • Assistant Referee 2: Houda Afine (Tunisia)
  • Fourth Official: Vincentia Enyonam (Togo)
  • Reserve Assistant Referee: Nafissatou Yekini Shitou (Benin)

Additionally, the VAR team is composed of experienced officials:

  • VAR: Dorsaf Ganouati (Tunisia)
  • Assistant VAR 1: Zakaria Bouchtaoui (Morocco)
  • Assistant VAR 2: Leticia Antonella Viana (Eswatini)
  • Referee Assessor: Fatou Gaye (Senegal)

This collaborative effort between the officiating team and the VAR underscores CAF's ambition to ensure precision, clarity, and control over the matches, particularly during the most critical moments of the tournament.

The final clash between Cameroon and Malawi will conclude a tournament filled with exciting twists, tight contests, and remarkable performances, once again highlighting the advancement of women's football in Africa. As both teams prepare to compete in their first final in the competition's history, a new continental champion will be crowned after 28 years of the Women’s AFCON legacy.

The selection of an officiating team comprising officials from eight African nations also showcases the continent's diversity and representation at the highest level. This decision reinforces CAF's commitment to promoting the highest standards of officiating and enhancing the professionalism of this essential sector in the development of African football.

As reported by cafonline.com.