Popular South African referee Akhona Makalima has been left out of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) list for the upcoming referees’ training camp scheduled to take place in Cairo, Egypt.
The omission of Makalima — one of Africa’s most recognized female referees — has drawn attention across the football community, given her consistent presence at major continental and international tournaments in recent years.
CAF’s training camp serves as a preparatory exercise for top referees ahead of key competitions, providing advanced technical, physical, and VAR certification sessions.
While CAF has not issued an official explanation for her absence, sources suggest that selection for the Cairo camp was highly competitive, with only referees meeting stringent performance and fitness criteria making the final cut.
Makalima, who made history as the first female referee to officiate in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL), has earned global recognition for her trailblazing career, including appearances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and several CAF Women’s Champions League tournaments.
Her absence from the upcoming training session is seen as a temporary setback, though football analysts expect her to return to the CAF refereeing roster in future events, citing her experience and professionalism.
CAF’s Cairo training camp will feature referees and assistant referees from across the continent, focusing on enhancing officiating standards and ensuring consistency ahead of the next round of African competitions.
