Celebrated Moroccan referee Bouchra Karboubi has announced her retirement from active officiating after being left out of the list of referees selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Karboubi, regarded as one of Africa’s most accomplished referees, expressed deep disappointment over her exclusion, especially with the continental tournament taking place on home soil. The decision has triggered widespread reactions across African football, with many describing the omission as unjust and surprising.

A trailblazer in her field, Karboubi made history as the first woman to officiate a senior men’s CAF Champions League match and earned significant praise for her outstanding performances at AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

Despite her impressive track record, her name was missing from the final list released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for AFCON 2025.

Sources disclosed that the Moroccan official felt “hurt and disrespected” by the move and immediately chose to end her career.