Salima Mukansanga: Rwandan Set to Become AFCON First Ever Female Referee

• Salima Mukansanga was among 63 match officials selected to officiate the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon
• The list features three other females including Carine Atemzabong, Fatiha Jermoumi of Morocco, and Bouchra Karboubi
• However, only Mukansanga has been afforded the rare opportunity of officiating matches as a centre referee
• This will make her the first-ever female match official to officiate a major men's football tournament in Africa

Salima Mukansanga is in line to ink her name in history books ahead of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The 34-year-old is set to become the first-ever female referee at the continental showpiece after being selected among the match officials for the tournament.

GiveMeSport reports Mukansanga is part of the FIFA International Referees List - qualifying her to officiate at the international level.

She has previously made a name for herself after taking charge of various matches including the Women's World Cup, Africa Women's Cup of Nations, and CAF Women's Champions League.

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Her experience has seen her earn a slot among the match officials who will officiate at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released a list of 63 match officials for the tournament, with Mukansanga among four women selected.

The others included Cameroonian Carine Atemzabong, Fatiha Jermoumi of Morocco, and Bouchra Karboubi.

However, what makes Mukansanga's selection unique is that she will be the only female who will officiate as a centre referee.

Mukansanga is understood to have had a great passion for sports from a tender age and initially wanted to become a professional basketball player before she decided to become a referee 15 years ago.

Boxer dies after 10-day coma

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Russian boxer Arrest Sahakyan has tragically died aged just 26 days after spending 10 days in a coma.

Sahakyan suffered serious brain injuries during his bout against Igor Semernin in Tolyatti on Boxing Day.

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He was subsequently rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery but sadly passed away after a 10-day coma.

His death was confirmed by a relative on Instagram in an impassioned tribute that mourned Sahakyan as a "sincere person."