Mukansanga becomes first female center referee to officiate at AFCON

Rwanda referee Salima Mukansanga has put her name in the history books after becoming the first-ever woman to officiate in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Salima Mukansanga who was the fourth official on January 10th when Guinea beat Malawi 1-0 in a Group B clash took the center stage on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old was the person in charge in another Group B encounter between Zimbabwe and Guinea. She dished out six yellow cards; three to Zimbabwe players and three to Guinean players.

Guinea’s Ibrahima Cisse received the first yellow in the 34th minutes, Naby Keita and Mamadou Kane in the 90+1 and 90+3 completed the list.

For Zimbabwe, Talbert Shumba, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Onismor Bhasera were cautioned in the 56th, 85th and 90+1 minutes.

The game itself ended 2-1 in favour of Zimbabwe. The Warriors scored two first half goals in the 26th, 43rd minutes through Knowledge Musona and Kudakwashe Mahachi.

Guinea pulled one back through captain and Liverpool player Naby Keita in the 46th minutes but it wasn’t enough.