Nairobi, March 9 -- The whistle blows, not just for the start of a game, but for a new era.

At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament (Afcon) in Cote d'Ivoire, a historic stride was taken as a significant number of female referees shattered the glass ceiling, officiating men's matches for the first time in the tournament's history.

It is evident that the 34th edition of Afcon was not just a spectacle of thrilling football matches, unexpected results and dramatic turnarounds but also a landmark moment for gender equality in the sport.

Also read: Yes, women's games can attract just as much interest as men's contests

The tournament (January 13 to February 11) witnessed a monumental rise in female representation, with more wom...