Meet Asomaniwaa Akoto Akrofi: The 7-Year-Old Ghanaian Girl Making Waves as a Football Referee
At just seven years old, Asomaniwaa Akoto Akrofi is already turning heads in the world of football, not as a player, but as a promising young referee.
Inspired by her older brother, who plays football, Asomaniwaa decided to take a different route in the sport. And that bold choice is already paying off.
This week, she proudly took charge as a match official during the group-stage games of the FIFA Women’s Football Campaign, hosted at Koforidua Technical University in Ghana on May 29 and 30, 2025. The two-day event, which ended yesterday, was part of FIFA’s global effort to grow the women’s game from the grassroots.
The campaign, held in collaboration with the Ghana Football Association (GFA), aims to introduce basic schoolgirls under the age of 12 to football in a fun and safe environment. It focuses on small-sided games, teamwork, confidence-building, and free play, ensuring that girls develop not just football skills but also social and life skills.
Asomaniwaa’s involvement as a referee was a standout moment. Dressed in a referee’s jersey, whistle in hand, she confidently officiated matches involving girls not much younger than herself. Her presence on the pitch brought smiles and admiration from players, organisers, and spectators alike.
The highlight of the campaign was the five-a-side tournament, which offered the girls their first real taste of structured football. But beyond the goals and tackles, the event served a bigger purpose: helping young girls find their voice and passion through sport.
Asomaniwaa is proof that football offers opportunities both on and off the pitch. With the right support, she could become one of the future stars of African football officiating.
