CHIKOTESHA HANDED FIFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ASSIGNMENT

Zambian assistant FIFA referee Diana Chikotesha has earned yet another prestigious international appointment, this time for the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions League, set to take place at the Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium in Wuhan, China.

Chikotesha, who continues to raise Zambia’s flag high on the global stage, has been named among seven African match officials chosen for the competition. The panel includes Moroccan referee Bouchra Karboubi, assistant referee Carine Atezambong of Cameroon, Shamirah Nabadda of Uganda, and Morocco’s Hamza El Fariq and Fathia Jermoumi, who will serve as Video Assistant Referees (VAR).

The officials will oversee the highly anticipated clash between Asian champions Wuhan Jiangda WFC and New Zealand’s Auckland United FC, winners of this year’s OFC Women’s Champions League. The victor of the encounter will proceed to Africa in the second round, where they will face the CAF Women’s Champions League champions. The eventual winner will book a spot in the final stage of the tournament, scheduled for a centralised venue.

The FIFA Women’s Champions League is designed to bring together six continental champions from the previous season to battle for the newly introduced trophy, marking a significant step in the growth of women’s club football globally.

Chikotesha, who is no stranger to international duty, has become a regular face at COSAFA, CAF and FIFA tournaments. She is currently the CAF Assistant Female Referee of the Year, a recognition that underscores her consistency, professionalism, and rising reputation in the world of football officiating.

Her latest appointment is another milestone in an already glittering career, and a proud moment for Zambia as she continues to blaze the trail for women referees on the continent.