The former footballers turned Rwandese referring trailblazers, were among the over 30 match officials selected by the Confederations of African Football (CAF) to assume responsibility on the pitch during the tournament which is drawing to its close.
Oliver Ochieng
The 2024 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco will be remembered as a tournament of many firsts—from a newly designed trophy and record-breaking prize money, to the remarkable presence of Rwandan twin sisters officiating on the continental stage.
Aline Umutoni (center referee) and Alice Umutesi (assistant referee) are making waves at the tournament – not as players but as standout referees, authoritatively taking charge of matches as Africa looks on.
The former footballers turned Rwandese referring trailblazers, were among the over 30 match officials (referees, assistants and video assistant referees) selected by the Confederations of African Football (CAF) to assume responsibility on the pitch during the tournament which is drawing to its close.
Among the matches Aline and Alice officiated was the quarter-final duel between Algeria and Ghana on 19 July, the Black Queens reaching the semis after a post penalty win against Algeria, only to be stopped by hosts Morocco.
The pair is a Rwandese symbol of unity, purpose and pride. “We are very happy to work together because we are twins. We train together, we share everything. It is great that we work together,” Aline told CAF TV during a recent interview.
“Her mistakes are my mistakes. If she makes mistakes on the pitch, it is like me,” interjected Alice, adding, “I have to criticize her to correct the next one. It is for our good.”
Initially, they were all central referees, before quickly figuring out that it limited their chances of officiating in the same matches or competitions.
That is when they made a decision for Aline to forge ahead with her center-referee exploits as Alice settled on trying out an assistant referee role.
“I chose to be a central referee because I am authoritarian. Secondly, I am responsible and I like to make decisions,” noted Aline.
According to Alice, they take their job seriously adding that like any other profession, referring puts food on their table.
“Referring is not reserved for men, today we are here as women. And you can make a living out of referring. You can buy a house, you can buy a car, you can help orphans. You can do anything because you earn your money without asking someone or doing something stupid.”
Lawyer Katonha, Southern Africa Twins Organization (SATO) Chairman and founder of twins Association of Zimbabwe is among Africans celebrating the twins for the milestone.
“We are proud of the Rwandan twins, their unique bond tells a story,” he said in a recent online post.
WAFCON 2024 concludes on Saturday, 26 July 2025 with a final clash between record champions Nigeria against hosts Morocco in the team’s fourth meeting.
Whereas the Super Falcons will be out for 10th WAFCON title, the Atlas Lionesses are seeking for a second title, and winning it on home soil will only help to add the icing on the cake.
Before the final, Ghana will be up against dethroned champions South Africa in the third playoff match a day earlier.
