FIBA Africa record another milestone with Women referees

YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - The line of feats at the just concluded FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2021 remains on the rise.

Aside from champions Nigeria, which joined Senegal in the line of teams to have recorded three consecutive Women's AfroBasket titles, FIBA Africa also recorded its own landmark.

FIBA Africa pulled another remarkable feat by having an all-women referees for the Final Game of the Women's AfroBasket 2021 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

The trio of Zouzou Nadege, Monica Nassauna and Andreia Silva made their mark as they took charge of the Final game to the admiration of all. Today we take a closer look at the referees who were in the eyes of the storm.

ZOUZOU NADEGE (Cote d'Ivoire)

Zouzou Nadege returned to the big stage after two-year maternity leave. The Ivorian referee, who officiated at the 2016 Rio Olympics, started her officiating career in 2010 after a brief playing career.

Zouzou, after giving birth in 2019, made her return in 2020 during the FIBA U18 African Women's Championship in Egypt.

Zouzou, whose last international competition was the FIBA Africa Women's Clubs Championship in November 2017, would insist she would use her experience to inspire other women to stay in action and balance their careers with family life.

"It wasn't easy to return as top basketball referee after my maternity leave," she admitted, adding: "I needed to pass my international referee license again."

But there is something that worries Nadege as an official. "Women's basketball lag behind compared to men's basketball. We need more women's competitions," she noted.

ANDREIA SILVA (Brazil)

The Sao Paulo-born referee has performed in major men's events such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Basketball Champions League Americas and recently the FIBA U19 World Championship, but being in the Olympics was the fulfilment of the highest degree.

"Just as it is for athletes, being in the Games, is also a referee's dream," Silva said.

"When I received the news, I could hardly believe it. I cried with joy and started to prepare. I prepared myself physically by following the plan designated by FIBA, and mentally, imagining possible situations. I studied the rules more and more, I studied the teams that would be in the Olympics and I got familiar with each referee that would also be there."

The 41-year-old Brazilian was among the women chosen to referee at Tokyo 2020 and was the first to perform in men's basketball, when she was part of the referee team for the United States vs Iran on July 28.

She had told FIBA.basketball that: "I am very happy to see that women have these possibilities, and I am very grateful to FIBA for all the opportunities. This motivates us to train and improve every day. The important thing is that all women are united together."

Today Silva is at the peak of her career, but to get where she is at took a very strong work ethic learned from her beginnings in Brazil.

MONICA NASSUNA (Uganda)

Ugandan Monica Nassuna has been one of the few referees that have stood out like a shining star for her country.

Aside from participating in several FIBA courses, she has also been an integral part of the growth of women referees.

She took part in the successful hosting of the Women's Referee Clinic as part of the world International Women's Day organised by the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations.

FIBA