Sports

S P R T FIFA names 4 African referees among officials for 2023 Women’s World Cup

By Amaechi Agbo

World football governing body, FIFA has listed four African women referees among the 33 officials to handle matches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand

Leading the quartet is highly experienced Vincentia Enyonam Amedome of Togo.

Vincentia Amedome officiated Nigeria Vs Ghana Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON qualifier on October 21, 2021 in Lagos.

Other Africa officials include Karboubi Bouchra of Morocco, Makalima Akhona of South Africa and Mukansanga Salima of Rwanda. They will join other 29 officials from other continents of the world to officiate matches

Also included in the Assistant Referees (AR) list are Mali, Zambia, Cameroon with one AR each while Morocco has two ARs.

In a release on Monday, FIFA noted that the selected match officials represent “highest level of women’s refereeing worldwide” adding that they will undergo various seminars before the tournament commences.

FIFA Referees Committee announced the names of the match officials selected for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 on Monday with a total of 33 referees, 55 assistant referees and 19 video match officials (VMOs) They were chosen in close cooperation with the six confederations, based on the officials’ quality and the performances delivered at FIFA tournaments as well as at other international and domestic competitions in recent years. For the first time in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, six female VMOs have also

Vincentia Enyonam Amedome from Togo is among officials for the World Cup

been selected.

“As always, the criteria we have used is ‘quality first’ and the selected on-field match officials represent the highest level of refereeing worldwide,” said the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina.

“We all remember the very successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France. The high standard of refereeing contributed significantly to that success. The aim for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 is to repeat that success and to convince again with excellent referees’ performances.”

Only Morocco’s Zourak Adil was named among the 19 Video Match Officials

The tournament will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand and is scheduled to take place from 20 July to 20 August 2023; it will be the first FIFA Women’s World Cup to have more than one host nation, and also be the first senior World Cup of either gender to be held across multiple confederations, as Australia is within the Asian Confederation while New Zealand is within the Oceania Confederation.

In addition, this tournament will be the first to feature the expanded format of 32 teams, from the previous 24, replicating the same format used for the men’s World Cup.

The opening match will be between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park, Auckland on 20 July 2023. The final will take place on 20 August 2023 at Stadium Australia, Sydney.

The United States are the defending champions, having won the previous two tournaments.

Our doors are open for partnership in 2023 - Volleyball President, Nimrod

The President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod said the doors of the Federation are open to corporate organisations that are willing to partner for the development of the sports across the country.

In his New Year message, Nimrod said the aspirations of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation in 2023 is to make a meaningful impact at International Championships as well as qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

He said Nigeria volleyball can achieve the desired goals when major stakeholders are committed to the same course.

The Secretary General of Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone 3 lauded the commitment of players, coaches, referees, club owners, administrators, sponsors and board members for their contribution to the growth and development of the game since their inauguration.

He said, “Our doors are open for sponsorship and support as well as seeking partnership and MOU with corporate organisations that wish to key into the sport as a social responsibility to the youths of Nigeria.

“Our aspirations this year includes making it to the numerous and important continental as well as global engagements vis a vis the 2023 African Games, 2023 African Youths Games and FIVB U19 Boys World Youths Championship, as well as series of Beach Volleyball events which will climax with the 2024 Olympics qualifiers in which Nigeria have registered to participate.

“The year 2023 is an opportunity to step up our commitment and dedication to our goals and objectives. This can only be achieved by our collective efforts and common desire for success as a federation.”

Nimrod said, “Appreciation goes to all clubs, sponsors with due recognition to all players for their patience, club owners and administrators for their understanding, stakeholders for their support, coaches and referees for their sacrifices and to all members of the Board of Administration for their contribution to the growth and development of the game since our inauguration. “No matter what challenges we faced, the past is now but a lesson. As we are ushered into the new year, we have a renewed hope for greater vision and better goals”, he added.

The member of Confederation of African Beach Volleyball Commission recounted some of the successes recorded by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation.

He said, “Without recounting all our success, I will on behalf of the Federation express heartfelt gratitude to everyone that played a different role in our successes last year, especially the triple international participation of our junior national teams in which Nigeria topped the podium at the U19 Championship in Morocco.

“The senior beach volleyball teams also participated in the African nations cup in Morocco where they performed credibly well. Your various contributions and involvement are noble and deeply appreciated.

“In 2022, M we dared to expand our horizon to involve National Division 2 Volleyball League and the Beach Volleyball Tour which another category will be created this year for new entrants into the tour. The aim is to spread the opportunities of the game to all levels.

“Despite the lapses we hope and believe we can do better and be better, but everything better can only be achieved with unity of purpose and collective effort,” he said.

Nimrod advised clubs and sponsors to always get clearance for the Nigeria Volleyball Federation Secretariat before using the logo for competitions across the country.

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