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Sierra Leone’s growing influence in football officiating has received another boost after two of its female referees delivered a commendable performance at the ongoing WAFU U-20 Women’s Tournament 2026 in Guinea-Bissau.
FIFA Centre Referee Aminata Fullah and Assistant Referee Agnes Gbla were appointed to officiate the opening-day fixture between the Senegal U-20 Women’s Team and the Gambia U-20 Women’s Team. The pair impressed observers with a calm, composed, and authoritative performance throughout the match, earning praise for their professionalism and control of the game.
Their selection for such a high-profile regional fixture is being viewed as a strong endorsement of Sierra Leone’s growing reputation in football officiating within the West African sub-region. It also reflects broader progress in promoting women’s participation and professionalism in the sport.
A notable highlight of the tournament has been the visibility of Aminata Fullah, who was selected as the official face of refereeing for the competition. Her image features prominently across tournament materials, including referees’ training backdrops and official publications—an honour that underscores both her personal excellence and Sierra Leone’s rising profile in African football.
Although the match ended in a 2–0 victory for Senegal, attention remained firmly on the officiating team, whose performance was widely regarded as a symbol of competence and growing recognition for Sierra Leonean referees on the international stage.
Football authorities have credited this progress to the continued efforts of the Sierra Leone Football Association, led by President Thomas Daddy Brima and his executive team, who have been working to strengthen capacity building and develop women’s football across the country.
As the tournament continues in Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone’s football community has expressed optimism that such milestones will inspire more women to pursue careers in refereeing while further enhancing the country’s standing within both West African and continental football circles.
