The delayed 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament got underway on Saturday, July 5, in Morocco.
Hosts Morocco and Zambia played out a thrilling 2-2 stalemate at the Stade Olympique de Rabat.
Interestingly, Ugandan female referee Shamirah Nabadda had the honor of officiating the tournament’s opening match.
Nabadda was at the heart of the action, with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervening once during the game.
The reigning African Women’s Footballer of the Year, Barbra Banda, broke the deadlock just moments after kick-off, scoring the tournament’s first goal in the opening minute.
It didn’t take long for the Atlas Lionesses to respond. In the 12th minute, Ibtissam Jraidi converted a penalty to level the score.
Zambia’s Grace Chanda had fouled Najat Badri in the penalty area, but Nabadda initially waved play on.
VAR then intervened, and Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga called Nabadda to the pitch-side monitor. Upon review, a penalty was awarded, which Jraidi calmly slotted home.
In the 27th minute, the Copper Queens reclaimed their lead. Banda, the scorer of the first goal, turned provider, assisting Racheal Kundananji to make it 2-1.
Zambia took a 2-1 advantage into halftime and held onto the lead for most of the second half until Ghizlane Chebbak struck late in the 87th minute to bring Morocco level once again.
For Nabadda, this marks her second WAFCON tournament, having made her debut during the 2022 edition, which was also hosted by Morocco.
Since then, the Uganda Premier League referee has seen her career take significant strides, earning appointments to major international competitions, including the Olympics, AFCON U20, the All Africa Games, and several other tournaments.
Nabadda has become a respected figure and a proud representative of Uganda on the international football scene, and her rise shows no signs of slowing down.
