We are now using VAR and it is the same as World Cup and Olympics. This is a great opportunity for me and all women. I am ready and I have the courage to succeed – Salima Mukansanga

Salima Mukansanga has made history as the first African woman and one of three women in the world to referee at FIFA World Cup for the first time since its creation.

The 33-year-old hit headlines in January when she became the first woman to officiate at the men’s 33^rd edition of Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Mukansanga ison the listof 36 referees, including two other women – Stephanie Frappart of France and Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan, that are officiating FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

It is the first time in the history of World Cup that women have been listed to officiate in the tournament. Also on the list are three assistant referees – Neuza Back of Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt of America.

The Rwandan official who was involved in matches at the Tokyo Olympics and Women’s World Cup in France now proves that there should be no barriers for women referees within the men’s game.

“I thought maybe they had made a mistake with my name when I found it among the list of referees. But I am here now. It means they saw something in me, they believe in me and they are convinced that I can do something. I know I am capable. I trust myself and I trust what I’m doing,” said Mukansanga.

“We are now using VAR and it is the same as World Cup and Olympics. This is a great opportunity for me and all women. I am ready and I have the courage to succeed,” said explained.

Mukansanga received an endorsement from CAF’s Head of Referees Eddy Maillet who made the final decision on which officials will take part in the tournament.

“The match officials were selected based on their experience, their abilities and their current form. Only the best officials were selected for this extraordinary event,” said Maillet.

Mukansanga believes that participation at the Tokyo Olympics, where she officiated Team GB’s matches against Chile and Australia and the meeting between the Netherlands and China have prepared her well for the challenges of the Nations Cup.

“The most important thing is to be ready for the demands of the game and working hard with my fellow referees. Together with appropriate teamwork and communication skills, we will succeed together,” said Mukansanga.

It’s clear that beyond the technical aspects of refereeing, Mukansanga’s desire to reach the pinnacle of the game is fuelled by a love of football from a grassroots level, having played the sport as a youngster only to find herself fascinated by the person in the middle.

“I used to play football at primary and secondary school, but when I used to watch games, I liked to watch the one who was on the field of play, who was taking decisions, leading players, talking to the players, the one who people are respecting on the field of play, and that person interested me,” Mukansanga revealed.

“I wanted to be like that person on the field of play, to do what he was doing and to learn more about that one person leading the game, giving them cards and sanctioning them. That is where I derived this passion,” she added.

After initially being rejected by the Rwandan FA on account of her age, having approached them about joining a referees course straight out of secondary school, she taught herself the basics of officiating, the laws of the game and eventually got an opportunity of studying with other new referees.

I used to play football at primary and secondary school, but when I used to watch games, I liked to watch the one who was on the field of play, who was taking decisions, leading players, talking to the players, the one who people are respecting on the field of play, and that person interested me – Mukansanga.

After getting initial formation, she returned to her hometown and began to officiate matches for veterans, then amateur players and then eventually worked her way up through the local footballing pyramid, starting with third division men’s games.

After reaching the domestic top flight, she then moved on to take up continental international responsibilities. Mukansanga is acutely aware of how her passion for refereeing and love of the sport have transformed her life in ways she never expected.

“I have already reached a place I did not expect to reach, realized dreams I was having, and travelled from Africa to Europe, from Europe to America, in the name of refereeing,” she Rwanda’s famed referee.

Mukansanga disclosed that she has travelled a lot and learnt how other countries are, how teams are from other countries, how different confederations work. She is excited that she, a poor girl from Africa is out there refereeing games from European and American teams.

Born in 1988, Mukansanga hails from Rusizi District in Western Province of Rwanda. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery attained from University of Gitwe, Rwanda. Her aspiration while at school was to become a basketball player, but it was never to be because she lacked basic needs for the sport.

She turned to football and during her final year at St. Vincent de Paul Musanze Secondary School, she officiated in a school tournament final game and it was from here that her road to football refereeing started.

In 2004, she was got her first assignment as Centre Referee during the Caf African Women’s championship battle between Zambia and Tanzania.

After successfully officiating the Zambia-Tanzania game, Mukansanga was elevated to take up international matches and her first duty came at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo. Thereafter, she returned to Uganda to handle the 2015 CECAFA Women Challenge Cup in Jinja, Uganda.

Mukansanga continued to rise and in 2016, she was among 47 officials who took charge of the Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon – and she was in control of the final between Cameroon and Nigeria.

Her performance in Cameroon saw her listed to officiate at the U17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay in 2018 where she took charge of Group A fixture between Uruguay and New Zealand.  Mukansanga was also an official at the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup in France.