Egyptian refereeing is set for another notable appearance on the African stage after CAF appointed international referee Shahenda Saad Ali El-Maghrabi to officiate the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final between Cameroon and Malawi.

The final will be played on Sunday, August 16, at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with kickoff scheduled for 10:00 PM Cairo time. The match will crown a new champion of the tournament.

From African Competitions to the Final Stage

El-Maghrabi’s appointment comes after a series of prominent appearances in African women’s football. The Egyptian referee is taking part in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the third consecutive edition.

She previously officiated the third-place matches in the 2022 and 2024 editions and served as the fourth official in the 2021 final. She has also taken part in the CAF Women’s Champions League, further strengthening her experience at the continental level.

According to the reports, her appointment also marks a historic milestone, as El-Maghrabi becomes the first Egyptian and Arab female referee to take charge of a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.

The assignment represents another significant moment for Egyptian refereeing and highlights the growing presence of Egyptian officials in major African competitions.

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Cameroon’s Experience Meets Malawi’s Historic Dream

The final brings together Cameroon and Malawi in a landmark encounter for both sides.

Cameroon are reaching the Women’s AFCON final for the fourth time in their history and for the first time since 2016. Malawi, meanwhile, have reached the tournament’s final for the first time, creating a historic opportunity for the team.

Cameroon secured their place in the final after eliminating Morocco on penalties, while Malawi’s qualification ensured that the tournament would produce a new champion, as neither finalist had previously lifted the trophy.

El-Maghrabi will lead a multinational refereeing team featuring Mauritius’ Quincy Victoire and Tunisia’s Huda Afini as assistant referees. Togo’s Vincentia Enyonam will serve as the fourth official, while Benin’s Nafissatou Yekini Chitou has been appointed as the reserve assistant referee.

The VAR team will be led by Tunisia’s Dorsaf Gnaouati, assisted by Morocco’s Zakaria Bouchtawi and Eswatini’s Leticia Antonella Viana.

El-Maghrabi’s presence in the final adds a new chapter to the story of Egyptian refereeing in African football and gives the Egyptian whistle a historic role in one of the continent’s biggest women’s football matches.