Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga has been named as a referee at the 2022 men’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar, making her the first African woman to be named for this international role.

The 34-year-old is an international football referee from Rwanda who is a listed international referee for International Federation Of Association Football (FIFA).

Ms Salima Mukansanga has been named among the 36 referees selected for the tournament which begins on November 20.

She officiated at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, the Tokyo 2022 Olympic Games and the recent ended Men’s Africa Cup of Nations.

For the first time ever, female referees have been chosen to officiate matches at the FIFA men’s World Cup in Qatar. They are Yamashita Yoshimi from Japan, Stephanie Frappart from France and Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda.

Salima holds a degree in Nursing and Midwifery from the University of Gitwe and says officiating at the World Cup is every referee’s dream and thus, she feels delighted to be among history makers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.