Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – The Sierra Leone Football Association have announced that Fatmata Mansaray, an Assistant Referee based in Kono, has made history by becoming the first female official from Sierra Leone to be appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for its premier men’s competition.
Fatmata Mansaray will serve as Assistant Referee AR2 in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg match between Chadian champions AS PSI and US Monastir of Tunisia. This significant match is set to take place in Yaoundé on August 18, 2024.
Mansaray’s appointment marks a milestone in Sierra Leonean football history as she joins a team of three male referees for this high-profile fixture. The 2023-24 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds commence on August 18, 2024, and will conclude on October 2, 2024. A total of 54 teams will compete in these rounds to secure one of the 16 spots in the group stage of the tournament.
The draw for the qualifying rounds took place on July 25, 2023, at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The entry of the 54 teams into the draw was based on their performances in CAF competitions over the past five seasons, as indicated by the CAF 5-Year Ranking points.
This historic appointment underscores the growing role of women in football officiating and highlights Sierra Leone’s contribution to the sport on the continental stage. BT/5/8/2024
