World football governing body, FIFA, has appointed Malian referee, Kankou Coulibaly, to officiate the Super Falcons’ 2016 Olympics qualifying fixture first leg match against Equatorial Guinea in July.
A statement on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website on Monday said the Malian would be assisted by three of her compatriots.
“For the first leg match taking place at the Abuja National Stadium on July 18, Coulibaly will be the Centre Referee.
“Fellow Malians Djeneba Dembele, Mariam Coulibaly and Fatou Sacko will be the Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Fourth Official respectively.
“However, Halimatou Hamidou from Niger Republic will be the Referee Assessor while Arret Nje Jah from The Gambia will be the Match Commissioner,’’ it said.
The statement added that Angola’s Marximina Bernardo will be the Centre Referee for the return leg match slated for Bata on August 2.
“Her fellow Angolans, Luisa Luhaco, Andalia Jeremias and Tania Duarte will be Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Fourth Official respectively.
“Agathe Athacou from Cote d’Ivoire will be the Referee Assessor and Nomsa Mahlangu from South Africa will be the Match Commissioner,’’ it said.
Winners of the fixture between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea will clash with winners of the fixture between South Africa and Kenya.
The overall winners will book a spot at the Women’s Football Tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games, taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Falcons, who are current and seven-times African champions, failed to progress beyond the first round at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
They failed to qualify from Group D after losing 0-1 to the U.S. in their final match in the first round.
The Falcons finished bottom of Group D with one point after a draw with Sweden and losses to Australia and the U.S.
