Two ‘Catch Them Young’ referees selected for WAFU B U17 Girls Cup

Two referees who have benefited from our Catch Them Young Refereeing Policy have been selected among 14 young officials for the upcoming WAFU Zone B U17 Girls Cup in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.

Mercy Boakyewaa Gyan has been appointed as a Centre Referee, while Linda Ayimpoka Asogro will serve as an Assistant Referee at the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from September 15 to September 28, 2026.

The duo are part of a group of 14 young referees selected by the leadership of WAFU Zone B from the Young Talents Refereeing Course held at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence in Prampram in March this year. Two young officials were selected from each of the seven member associations of the Zone.

The decision to involve the young officials in an international competition is part of WAFU Zone B’s strategy to provide promising referees with practical exposure and begin preparing them for higher levels of the game. Rather than keeping the young referees confined to training environments, the initiative gives them the opportunity to officiate competitive matches and learn the demands of international football.

For Gyan and Asogro, the tournament represents a significant milestone in their refereeing journeys. The experience in Yamoussoukro will allow them to work alongside more experienced officials, handle the pressures of international matches and further develop their technical and decision-making abilities.

The selection of the two Ghanaian officials also demonstrates the potential of the Catch Them Young Refereeing programme, which seeks to identify and nurture refereeing talent at an early age. With the right exposure and mentorship, young officials such as Gyan and Asogro can develop into referees capable of representing Ghana and the WAFU Zone at major continental and international competitions in the future.

By giving these 14 teenagers an international platform at such an early stage of their careers, the Zone is creating a pathway for them to gain the experience, confidence and knowledge needed to become the leading match officials of tomorrow.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS