Shahenda El-Maghrabi (R) took charge of Smouha's game against Pharco (Photo: Smouha's official Facebook page)
El-Maghrabi made history by becoming the first main female referee in the premier domestic competition for men, having previously served as an assistant referee in a couple of top-flight matches.
Born in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, the 30-year-old played for several Egyptian clubs as a teenager before quitting and becoming a referee in 2014. She became an international referee two years later.
According to local reports, El-Maghrabi is nicknamed "Collina" by her peers, in reference to former Italian referee Pierluigi Collina, the famous bald-headed official who now heads FIFA's Referees Committee.
"Shahenda is one of the best referees not only in Egypt, but also in Africa," Essam Abdel-Fattah, the outgoing chief of Egypt's refereeing committee, previously said in a television interview.
El-Maghrabi's first game was free of troubles as it ended in a 0-0 draw between Smouha and Pharco.
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