FIFA has selected Shamira Nabadda, a female referee from Uganda, to officiate at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, spotlighting her as a prominent figure in the region’s refereeing landscape.
Among the four referees appointed from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) for the prestigious event, Shamira Nabadda’s inclusion underscores the commitment to diversity and gender equality in football officiating.
As Uganda’s representative on the international stage, Shamira Nabadda’s selection highlights her exceptional skills and dedication to the sport. Her participation in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics not only showcases her individual talent but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring referees, especially women, across the continent.
The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics that will feature 32 sporting disciplines including Football will take place July 26th to August 11th in France.
The other referees selected from the CECAFA Zone include; Ismail Mohmood Ali (Sudan), Ahmed Liban Abdoulrazack (Djibouti) and Stephen Yiembe (Kenya).
“We are very happy and proud to have our referees selected for the Paris Olympics,” said the CECAFA head of refereeing, Ali Ahmed.
FIFA has appointed 21 referees, 42 assistants, 20 video match officials and 6 support who will be in-charge of both the men and women’s category. Ten match officials from Africa have been appointed by FIFA.
Egypt and Mali qualified to represent Africa in the men’s category, while for the women’s category Nigeria are facing South Africa, and Zambia taking on Morocco to decide who takes the two slots. Canada are the women’s defending champions, while Brazil were the two-time men’s defending champions but failed to qualify.
The men’s tournament is a U-23 competition but three players in each squad over the age of 23 are allowed to compete for their nations, while the women’s category allows players of all ages to compete.
