Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Namibia Football Association (NFA) president Robert Shimooshili has praised Namibian referee Twanyanyukwa Antsino for making history as the first Namibian to officiate the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final.
Antsino officiated the match between Nigeria and Morocco on Saturday night.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Shimooshili described the occasion as an achievement for Antsino, the NFA, and the nation.
“Antsino’s selection to officiate the WAFCON final is a testament to her dedication, skill, and unwavering commitment to excellence,” he said.
Shimooshili said her role in the final brings pride to both herself and the association and highlights the NFA’s efforts in developing refereeing and other areas of football in the country.
“NFA would like to further emphasise the inspirational impact of Antsino’s success. Antsino’s journey is an encouragement to all aspiring young women referees in Namibia. We urge them to grab every opportunity to advance themselves in football, knowing that with hard work and perseverance, they too can reach the pinnacle of the sport,” said Shimooshili.
He also acknowledged the contributions of three other Namibian women at the tournament.
NFA’s technical director, Jacqueline Shipanga, served on the technical study group (TSG) and contributed to tournament analysis. Helvi Eliakim and Juanita Gowases worked as General Coordinators, helping manage the competition’s logistics.
“We extend our warmest congratulations to Jacqueline Shipanga, Helvi Eliakim, and Juanita Gowases for their outstanding contributions at WAFCON. They’ve truly flown Namibia’s flag high on the continental stage. Their involvement, alongside Twanyanyukwa’s historic achievement, is a shining example of women’s empowerment and growth within football and serves as a powerful inspiration for future generations,” said Shimooshili.
He added that the NFA remains committed to developing football talent in all areas, with a focus on advancing women in the sport.
