Rwandan female referee, Salima Mukansanga, is among three women who will debut at the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup slated for Qatar between Sunday, November 20 and Sunday, December 18.
Mukansanga made history a few months ago when she became the first female referee to officiate at the African Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON).
The 38-year-old, who holds a bachelor's degree in Midwifery and Nursing, was born in Rusizi, a locality in the Western part of Rwanda.
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She schooled at Saint Vincent de Paul Musanze, where she played basketball before the lack of quality infrastructure made her try refereeing.
The decision paid off since she went on to become one of the best referees that Africa has ever produced.
Salima has officiated other high-profile tournaments, including the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2018 FIFA Under 17 Women's World Cup.
Other female referees who will debut at the world’s most-watched tournament include Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita and popular French referee Stephanie Frappart.
Yamashita was part of the referees who officiated at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Frappart, on the other hand, has graced the men’s UEFA Champions League and a couple of matches at the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The 38-year-old was also in charge of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final between multiple winners, the United States and the Netherlands.
Apart from the trio, FIFA has also selected three women assistant referees to officiate at the controversial tournament.
They include Neuza Back (Brazil), Kathryn Nesbitt (United States) and Mexico's Karen Medina.
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