Last night, France’s Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match between Germany and Costa Rica.
The 38-year-old led an all-female team that included Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz, a medina from Mexico.
Diana Chikotesha, a Zambian female FIFA referee, described the occasion as a significant achievement that will open doors for other female referees.
Chikotesha told Bola News in an exclusive interview that this was a historic moment that would inspire a girl child and other women.
“It’s a big achievement,” she said. “And history now has it that female referees have gone to the men’s world cup tournaments, so even we who are following behind, people will not rise eyebrows next time when they see another lady going for the big tournament like the World Cup, because they will know that others opened the door for all of us.”
She also congratulated Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga, one of the Qatar World Cup’s female referees, and called her an inspiration to African girl children.
“It is a big achievement for all of us and I am extremely happy about their appearance in that tournament,” said Chikotesha. “I know she[Musansanga] has gone there to represent Africa and also to represent a girl child, and it’s all also a plus to all the African women, I am happy for her, she is opening doors for us.”
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Chikotesha was one of 26 assistant referees named in August to officiate at the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
She is also hoping to make the final list of referees chosen to officiate at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
