Shamirah Nabadda to officiate at AFCON 2025 in Morocco

Uganda’s Shamirah Nabadda is among 73 referees chosen to officiate at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. She is the only referee from Uganda.

Just days ago, Nabadda was voted CAF Best Female Referee of the Year 2025, receiving the award in Rabat. At only 30 years old, she has become one of Africa’s most respected referees, earning recognition in a field still dominated by men.

AFCON 2025 will have 28 centre referees, 31 assistants, and 14 Video Match Officials. But it is Nabadda’s presence that stands out, especially after a strong year in which she handled key matches across the continent.

Her performances at the U20 AFCON, the 2024 CHAN tournament, and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games proved her ability to manage pressure on the biggest stages. At the CHAN tournament, she took charge of the bronze medal match between Senegal and Sudan.

Nabadda was also one of only ten African referees at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she made history as the first Ugandan woman and only the second Ugandan since 2000 to officiate at the Games.

Her journey began in Mbarara City, where she was born to Quraish Mutagubya and Mastula Birungi. She grew up playing football at Masaka Secondary School as a left-back before joining Western United in the Fufa Elite Women’s League. After completing Senior Six in 2015, she was encouraged by the late Abbas Sendyowa to attend a refereeing course at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru. That decision changed her life.

By 2016 she had earned her FUFA badge, and in 2018 she received her FIFA badge, opening the doors to international football. Since then, she has officiated at the WAFCON, All Africa Games, World University Games, World Cup qualifiers, and several FUFA tournaments.

Nabadda also pursued academics alongside her refereeing path, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bishop Stuart University.

The CECAFA zone also has Burundian Pacifique Ndahibawenimana, Kenya’s Peter Waweru Kamaku, Rwanda’s Samuel Uwikunda, Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia) and Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail from Sudan.

Uganda is in Group C with Nigeria, Tunisia, and Tanzania. The Uganda Cranes will play their first match against Tunisia at the Rabat Olympic Stadium on 23rd December 2025.

AFCON 2025 will take place in Morocco from 21st December 2025 to 18th January 2026, across six cities and nine stadiums. The tournament opens with hosts Morocco facing Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on 21st December, and Ivory Coast enters as the defending champion