Yemisi Akintoye Named Among 18 WAFCON 2025 Referees for Morocco Nigeria’s Yemisi Akintoye has secured a spot on the official list of 18 referees selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2025 in Morocco. This marks a significant return after Nigerian match officials were absent from major African tournaments for nearly two decades. Akintoye, lauded for her experience and professionalism, will participate in VAR training before the tournament—part of CAF’s broader initiative to modernise officiating standards. The inclusion underscores CAF’s message that Nigerian referees are "good but need to do more" to reach elite levels. Alongside Akintoye, the Nigeria Football Federation recently awarded FIFA badges to 30 referees and assistants 22 men and 8 women as part of efforts to reinvigorate the national refereeing programme. Akintoye’s appointment reflects the growing confidence in Nigeria’s match officials and marks a positive step toward restoring their presence at the highest levels of African football. Editorial We warmly welcome Yemisi Akintoye’s selection for WAFCON 2025 an achievement that rekindles Nigeria’s voice in elite women’s football. For too long, our referees have remained unseen at continental finals, not for lack of ability but due to structural lapses. This breakthrough is not just personal it is national. Yet praising selection isn't enough. We must insist on sustained investment in training, especially VAR proficiency. CAF’s acknowledgment that "good" is not enough must serve as a prompt, not a platitude. Nigerian officials must now push past this milestone to become "elite". Acknowledging referees with FIFA badges and international assignments is step one. Step two requires consistent exposure to high-stakes matches, cross-border seminars, mentorship programmes.