MBABANE – While Letticia Viana has been shining on the grand stage of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, the Times Sports Desk has established that she did so without the blessing of her superiors.
An investigation by this publication has uncovered that the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs—where Viana is employed as an Assistant Sports Officer—did not sanction her trip to Morocco. It is understood that a formal correspondence from a senior ministry official was directed to the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), explicitly denying the request for her release.
The refusal was reportedly based on operational issues within the department. Despite this, Viana proceeded with the trip, a move that has sparked serious concerns regarding her job security upon her return. When reached for comment regarding the matter, Viana declined to speak to the press.
Viana’s performance on the pitch, however, has been nothing short of historic. She has officiated five high-profile matches during the tournament, including DR Congo vs Benin, Tanzania vs Tunisia and Algeria vs Nigeria.
Her stellar run culminated in a semi-final appointment for Senegal vs Egypt and, most recently, yesterday’s final between Senegal and the hosts, These assignments have significantly bolstered her international profile under the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Her schedule is set to become even more demanding as she moves closer to the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup.
Viana is among an elite group of only nine video match officials (VMOs) from the CAF region selected for the FIFA Video Match Officials Seminar in Doha, scheduled for February 2026.
This seminar represents the final assessment phase for officials under consideration for the global showpiece in North America. Morocco.
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