By Dagim Tekle | The Voice of Women Sport
East and Central African football will have a strong presence at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 after three officials from the CECAFA region secured prestigious appointments for the global tournament.
FIFA has selected Uganda’s Shamirah Nabadda as one of only 18 referees entrusted with officiating at the championship, which will bring together 24 nations from September 5 to 27 in Poland. Nabadda’s appointment comes less than a year after she was crowned CAF Women’s Referee of the Year 2025, further cementing her place among Africa’s elite match officials.
Joining her on football’s biggest youth stage are Burundi’s Fides Bangurambona, who has been appointed as an assistant referee, and Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga, who will serve as a Video Match Official (VMO). Their selections underline the growing influence of CECAFA officials in international football.
For the region, the appointments are more than individual achievements. They represent years of investment in referee development and demonstrate the increasing confidence FIFA continues to place in East and Central African officials.
CECAFA Head of Refereeing Ali Ahmed described the selections as a proud moment for the regional body.
“Having the three officials picked means a lot to the Zone because they will also be flying the CECAFA flag,” Ahmed said.
Africa will also be represented by several other experienced officials at the tournament, including Twanyanyukwa Antsino (Namibia), Fanta Koné (Mali), Diana Chikotesha (Zambia) and Carine Atezambong (Cameroon).
The continent will have four teams competing in the tournament after Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Benin successfully booked their places through the African qualifiers.
As the countdown to Poland 2026 continues, CECAFA’s three representatives will not only carry the responsibility of enforcing the Laws of the Game but will also showcase the quality and progress of African officiating on one of FIFA’s biggest international stages. Their appointments stand as another reminder that African referees are becoming an increasingly important part of the global game, earning recognition through consistency, professionalism and excellence
