Moroccan FIFA international referee Bouchra Karboubi has emphasized the support and encouragement of Morocco’s sports authorities, particularly from the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, as a “defining moment” in her career.
In an interview with Cafonline.com, the official website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Karboubi recalled a surprise visit from Lekjaa during the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ghana, her “first international competition.”
“My first international competition was the Women’s AFCON in Ghana in 2018. I have a particularly strong memory of an unexpected and emotional moment,” Karboubi said when asked about her recollections of her first major tournament on the international stage.
“During a training session, while we were focused on our exercises, I turned my head and saw the president of our federation, Fouzi Lekjaa. He had come to visit us unannounced. It was a complete surprise! His support and encouragement were a defining moment for me. I had tears in my eyes. I will never forget that day,” she revealed.
Regarding her greatest pride as a referee, Karboubi highlighted that on a national level, “my greatest pride remains officiating the 2021/22 Throne Cup final for men, where I had the honor of becoming the first Moroccan, Arab, and African woman to achieve this feat.”
“At the CAF level, there was also the AFCON match I officiated in Côte d’Ivoire between Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau. But most notably, the AFCON final, where I served as the fourth referee. That moment will remain engraved in my history,” the Moroccan referee stated.
“On the FIFA stage, my greatest achievement was participating in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. And of course, the Olympic Games, where I had the chance to referee a semi-final of the Paris Olympics. These matches have left a lasting mark on my career,” she added.
During the interview, Karboubi also discussed the Best Referee Award at the CAF Awards, which she received last December, describing it as “a moment of great joy and immense pride. A recognition that will remain engraved in my memory.”
“For me, this award is a source of positive energy and an additional motivation to double my efforts. I am fully aware that while reaching the top is difficult, staying there is even harder. This distinction pushes me to continue working hard to maintain this level of excellence,” she stated.
Regarding her goals and ambitions for the coming years, the Moroccan referee announced that she is a candidate for the 2026 Men’s World Cup, adding that her goal is “to participate as a referee and officiate multiple matches.”
“On the women’s side, I am also a candidate for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and I would love to referee the final. That would be a crowning achievement,” she affirmed, adding that her ambition is “to honor the trust that CAF has placed in us, to represent my federation, my country, and my confederation with dignity, and to continue proving that women have a rightful place in refereeing at the highest level.”
When asked about the evolution of women’s refereeing in Africa in recent years, she noted that it is progressing toward excellence.
“We, female referees, are present at all levels of competition, whether in FIFA or CAF, and even in men’s tournaments. We can be found at the U-17 and U-20 AFCON, CHAN, the senior AFCON, in VAR, and on the field. This progress is the result of significant work by the CAF arbitration committee and leadership, who are providing us with more and more opportunities,” she remarked.
As the first Arab woman to officiate a match in the Africa Cup of Nations as the main referee during AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire, Karboubi also officiated in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand.
She also had the privilege of becoming the first woman to officiate a first-division match in Morocco’s national league, Botola Pro D1, as well as being appointed to referee the 2019-2020 Throne Cup final.
Additionally, at the beginning of 2024, the Moroccan referee was awarded the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award as the “Best Arab Football Referee.”
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