“Wonder Women” can best define these two prides of African refereeing, Carine Atezambong Fomo and Fanta Idrissa Koné.
Two international assistant referees but also two extraordinary mothers with similar destinies.
Football fields and international competitions, they know a lot. They might have lost count of the number of matches they have refereed in their careers.
“I officiated several matches for both men and women,” explained Fomo, who has been an international assistant referee since 2014.
“Just this year 2022, I participated in the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, I was in Portugal and France for men’s competitions, then I officiated at the Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco, before refereeing at the U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica and now today, I return to Morocco for the CAF Women’s Champions League.”
Experience for this Cameroonian referee, who had chosen refereeing thanks for the timely advice from her late father.
“For the record, it was my late father who asked me. We watched the games together and he challenged me for actions but I did not know what to answer. When I had my competition from the National Sports Institute and it was he who asked me to choose the refereeing module.
On her part, Malian assistant referee Fanta Idrissa Koné also has a rich CV as she was serve as World Cups in youth categories, Africa Cup of Nations, several editions of the Champions League as well as the African Games.
“After my football career, I chose to become a referee. And that’s what I managed to do. In 2014, I became an international assistant referee. A choice that came naturally. There were Norwegians who came to do referee training with us, in Mali. I took the opportunity to also do some training.”
If they became international referees the same year, Carine and Fanta have another thing in common. They are both mothers and they are the leading example of the woman who can chop with these two responsibilities: motherhood and refereeing.
Fomo is the mother of two little girls aged 6 and 3, but she admits that despite the complexity of the situation, everything is a question of organization.
“At this level, it’s a lot of sacrifices, but when you’re well organized, you make do with it. It’s true that since January, I’ve only had two weeks with my daughters but we talk to each other all the time. And they especially understand that I promise to buy them lots of gifts.
“Besides, I would like to thank my family very much for their unconditional support. It is thanks to my family and my children that I was able to achieve my goals.”
For Koné, who preferes to be called Madame Keita, she is also the mother of two children, twins and talks about motherhood with a lot of emotion and pride, while paying glowing tribute to her husband.
“I came across a great husband, who supports me in everything. After giving birth, I was surrounded by many exceptional people and my husband is on time.”
Faced with all varying challenges and sacrifices, these two courageous ladies still have one common goal to achieve, which is officiating at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Source: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF)