Kenyan football referee Mary Wanjiru Njoroge has done it again, this time, making it to the list of match officials who will do duty at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-off tournament set for New Zealand from 17-23 February 2023.“FIFA FKF assistant referee Mary Njoroge has been appointed to officiate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-off scheduled to take place on February 17 – February 23, 2023, in New Zealand,” confirmed a statement from Football Kenya Federation (FKF).This is yet another first for the professional FIFA Assistant referee whose journey to the world started on the dusty pitches of Kikuyu and Kabete.Ababu Namwamba announces return of captain Victor Wanyama to Harambee StarsIn 2019, she became the first Kenyan female referee to do duty at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France held between June 7 to July 7.She was also the first Kenyan to feature in the Under-20 Women World Cup held in Brittany, France on August 5-24, 2018 where she officiated in two matches.Her trend-setting does not stop with the women’s game as she was on the list when CAF broke new ground by including women referees for the first time to handle men’s tournaments, during the 2019, Under-17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) played in Tanzania.Kenyan 🇰🇪 Mary Wanjiru Njoroge will be an assistant referee in today’s tie between Group A table leaders Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs 🇦🇴 Angola. This is the first time that female referees are officiating at a CAF male competition. Hongera sana. #AFCONU17 pic.twitter.com/eshHiZhZbu— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) April 17, 2019 Additionally, Mary has also been appointed to officiate the CAF Confederation Cup group stage match pitting Cameroon’s Coton Sport against Zambia’s NAPSA stars back in 2021.“I cannot explain how I am feeling right now. I have just received the news less than one hour ago from FKF and I am really excited,” the official told Mozzart Sport.##NAJAVA_MECA_6870982##She has also officiated in three senior Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) in 2014, 2016 and 2018.The news comes on the back of another Kenya referee Peter Waweru landing duty at the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) set for Algeria in January 2023 following Kenya’s lifted FIFA suspension.The Tournament, hosted in Aotearoa New Zealand from 17-23 February 2023, will see 10 nations compete for the final three qualifying spots for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 to be played from 20 July to 20 August 2023.FIFA FKF assistant referee Mary Njoroge has been appointed to officiate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-off scheduled to take place on February 17 – February 23, 2023, in New Zealand pic.twitter.com/LYlxAkGY4S— Football Kenya Federation (@Football_Kenya) December 8, 2022 The 10 teams that have qualified for the Tournament are Cameroon, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Haiti, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Portugal, Senegal, and Thailand.The tournament will be the first of its kind to take place and will be staged at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton/Kirikiriroa and North Harbour Stadium in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.
