Felix Tangawarima lauds African female referees at FIFA World Cup

Four of them are referees Vincentia Amedome (Togo), Bouchra Karboubi  (Morocco), Akhona Makhalima (South Africa) and Salima Mukasanga (Rwanda) while two assistants in Carine Atezambong Fomo (Cameroon) and Fanta Kone (Mali) also made the cut to the global showpiece.

Tangawarima was proud to declare they are well-versed with VAR technology. 

"I'm so happy to confirm to the region that all our female referees who are going for the world cup are VAR compliant. We took advantage of CAF tournaments because they are senior referees and have been going to cup tournaments. Those CAF tournaments, we have actually trained them to be VAR compliant," Tangawarima said.

Tangawarima wants to see the qualified match officials who will now have World Cup experience to help their colleagues. 

"They need to be registered, they need to be licensed for them to be able to officiate at that high level. So, all our female referees from our zone who are at the world cup they are licensed VAR referees. So, in that area we are covered," he added.

"So, what we need is to use those who are licensed already to help the other ones who are training so that we have a strong team of VAR registered referees."

From a COSAFA point of view, Tangawarima has already formulated a plan to increase the number of match officials well equipped in VAR for both male and female in the region.

Tangawarima says the continent has to accept the modern approach, already being used at major tournaments, is here to stay.

"All those logistics are being worked on but we are actually at a higher level in terms of preparation for VAR because now it's in the laws of the game. It's part of the game, we can't run away from it."