WAFCON 2026: Yemisi Akintoye says refereeing takes 14 years

Yemisi Eunice Akintoye has urged aspiring football referees to be patient, saying her path to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations took 14 years. The Nigerian official handled two matches as a centre referee at WAFCON 2026 and served as a fourth official in three others.

Akintoye was in charge of the group-stage meeting between Kenya and Senegal, as well as the semi-final between Algeria and Malawi. She described her appointment to the tournament as a privilege after years of persistence and continued improvement.

She began refereeing in 2012 and received her badge in 2021. WAFCON 2026 was the first time she had been selected to referee at the competition, highlighting the length of the journey between entering the profession and reaching the continental stage.

Speaking during the Hot Seat segment of Sports247’s Inside Naija Sports programme, Akintoye said refereeing should not be treated as a dependable source of income. In her view, officials need another occupation because refereeing alone may not provide enough to live on.

Akintoye, who studied Human Kinetics at the University of Lagos, works in photography outside football. She became more active in the field during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and invested in it after becoming a referee in 2021. Her photography studio in Ketu is now operated by staff while she continues with her officiating commitments.

She advised new referees to begin with passion rather than focus on how long the road may be. Every match, including those played in a community or less prominent setting, should be treated seriously because an assessor or another influential observer could be watching.

Akintoye also said officials must continue proving themselves because a strong performance on one day will not be enough if standards drop later. She encouraged parents to introduce their children to refereeing early, while stressing that officials need regular physical conditioning, good health and a firm understanding of the laws of the game. She said the route is demanding but attainable.