This week the biggest women’s football tournament on the planet kicks off.

Teams from 32 countries will be playing in Australia and New Zealand to win the coveted Fifa World Cup. Africa isn’t just going to be represented by the teams competing on the pitch but also by the teams of officials refereeing at the tournament.

One of those officials is Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga.

As well as being among the first women referees to work in a men’s world cup in its 92 year history, she was also the first woman to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations football competition or AFCON. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke to her about how she got started and what it takes to get to world’s biggest football tournaments.