Nigeria will end a 25-year wait for a centre referee at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after Zamfara-born official Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam was selected among the match officials for this year’s tournament in Qatar.
The 34-year-old is the only Nigerian centre referee named on FIFA’s list and one of four referees selected from Africa for the competition.
FIFA announced 81 match officials for the tournament, comprising 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations.
Abdulsalam’s appointment marks the first time since 2001 that a Nigerian centre referee will officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, ending a lengthy absence for the country at the global youth tournament.
The Nigerian official has built significant international experience, having officiated at two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and several WAFU competitions.
His recent performances have also earned him another major assignment, with Abdulsalam scheduled to referee the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between Cameroon and Comoros.
Abdulsalam became a FIFA-listed referee in 2022 and has retained his international badge through the organisation’s annual assessment process. He was also the only Nigerian referee selected for the 2025 African Nations Championship.
FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina said the officials chosen for the U-17 World Cup were among the organisation’s most promising match officials.
According to Collina, the appointments were based not only on the referees’ performances but also on their ability to work effectively as part of international officiating teams and handle the demands of a major tournament.
The Qatar tournament will provide Abdulsalam with another opportunity to gain valuable experience on the global stage while further establishing himself among Africa’s emerging international referees.
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