MBABANE – With just a week before Eswatini’s only Video Match Official Letticia Viana departs for Doha, a new threat emerges, potentially derailing her historic journey.
As the tension mounts, the elite official finds herself at a crossroads where she may ultimately have to choose between her professional career and her lifelong dream of officiating at the global showpiece.
Viana, the country’s lone International Federation of Association Football (FIFA)-accredited Video Assistant Referee (VAR) specialist, is scheduled to represent Eswatini at the FIFA Video Match Official Seminar 2026 in Qatar from 3–5 February.
She is one of only 26 officials selected globally – and one of just nine from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) region – to attend this final assessment phase for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Notably, Viana and South Africa’s Abongile Tom are the only representatives from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region invited to this prestigious gathering.
Fresh reports suggest Viana’s attendance is in jeopardy due to a brewing conflict with her employer, the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. It is alleged that her application for leave was denied by superiors, who claim they cannot sanction her departure after she reportedly officiated at the recently-concluded AFCON 2025 in Morocco without formal permission.
An exclusive investigation by this publication uncovered that the ministry, where Viana serves as an Assistant Sports Officer, did not sanction her trip to the tournament, which ran from December 21,2025 to January 18, 2026. Internal sources indicate that senior officials had explicitly directed correspondence to the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) denying her release, citing operational requirements within the department.
Despite the refusal, Viana proceeded to Morocco, a move that has sparked serious concerns regarding her job security. There are fears that after defying her bosses for the AFCON trip, she may be blocked from travelling to Doha or face dismissal upon her return.
Viana’s defiance comes on the heels of a historic performance on the pitch. She officiated five high-profile matches in Morocco, including Tanzania vs Tunisia and Algeria vs Nigeria, culminating in a semi-final appointment and a role in the final between Senegal and the hosts. While her international profile has soared, her domestic standing remains fragile.
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