By Macdella Eyong Bessong
Journalist kick442.com – Cameroon
Cameroon’s Atezambong Fomo Carine and Ntangti Njang Innoncentia have been retained among the 57 referees selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take part in the preparatory camp ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals in Morocco.
Innoncentia, a long-serving MTN Elite Two and Guinness Super League referee, has established herself as one of the leading figures in women’s officiating in Cameroon. Over the years, she has handled several high-profile matches, including the opening fixture of the 2023 Guinness Super League season between defending champions Lekié Filles and Authentic FC.
She also officiated the 2024 Women’s Cameroon Cup final between Lekié Filles and Louves Minproff in July 2024.
Her consistent performances earned the North West native a FIFA referee badge in 2024, which she retained on the most recent FIFA international referees list. Eleven months ago, she was also voted African Referees University’s Best Referee of the Month in recognition of her dedication and professionalism.
The upcoming assignment will mark her biggest continental engagement yet, as she prepares to take part in her first WAFCON finals. However, she is no stranger to international football, having previously officiated at the UNIFFAC tournament, WAFCON qualifiers, U-17 World Cup qualifiers and the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Her selection is widely seen as further confirmation of her rapid rise within Cameroonian football and evidence of her consistency at the highest level.
Innoncentia will be joined by her compatriot, the experienced Atezambong Fomo Carine, who is among the 21 assistant referees retained for the continental showpiece.
The 41-year-old former judoka, who was part of the officiating team at the CAF Women’s Champions League final, will be making yet another appearance in a competition she knows well. This will be her fifth WAFCON tournament, having previously featured in the 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2024 editions.
She recently also officiated at the men’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where she was the only woman among the four Cameroonian referees selected.
Atezambong began her refereeing career in 2009 and rose to prominence in 2014 when she became an Elite One referee—the only woman in Cameroon’s top division at the time—before earning her international badge in 2015.
A native of Dschang in Cameroon’s West Region, she has participated in almost every category of CAF and FIFA competition, including the Africa Cup of Nations, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Olympic Games, African Games (Brazzaville 2015), U-20 AFCON, CAF Super Cup, World Cup qualifiers, U-20 Women’s World Cup, CHAN, and CAF men’s and women’s interclub competitions, making her one of Cameroon’s most accomplished referees.
The selection of the two officials highlights Cameroon’s growing reputation in refereeing and raises hopes for improved standards in domestic leagues and increased international recognition.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026, across Rabat, Fez and Casablanca.
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