Kenyan Referee to officiate in FIFA Women’s World Cup match
By Collins Amanga, July 26, 2023
Kenyan referee Mary Njoroge has been selected as the second assistant referee for the FIFA Women’s World Cup match between Portugal and Vietnam, set to take place at Waikato Stadium on Thursday, July 27 2023.
Njoroge’s appointment to this prestigious tournament came after she was named among the officials for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup earlier in July. She is the sole Kenyan referee representing the country in the tournament.
Kenyan Referee to work with Mukansanga
Referee Salima Mukansanga will be the centre referee of the match between Portugal and Vietnam. First assistant Referee Queency Victoire will assist the main referee on the sidelines.
Her role involves monitoring offside situations and helping the referee make accurate decisions. Anahi Fernande will be the fourth official in the match.
This is not Njoroge’s first time officiating in the Women’s World Cup, as she previously showcased her skills during the 2019 edition held in France, which was won by the United States. With her eyes set on the future, Njoroge aspires to officiate in the men’s World Cup as well.
In a ceremony held at Kenyatta University on Tuesday, July 4, Njoroge was flagged off for her remarkable journey by the Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya, Linda Gellard.
Milestone for Kenyan referee
The upcoming match in New Zealand marks another significant milestone in Njoroge’s career, adding to her illustrious record of officiating high-profile events.
Her experience also includes participation in the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Over the years, Njoroge has consistently proven her expertise in the field, having also served as a referee in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Caf Confederation Cup, and the under-17 Africa Cup of Nations.