FIFA has selected Nigerian referee Kasimu Abiola Abdulsalam as one of the match officials for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Gatekeepers News reports that Abdulsalam is the only Nigerian among the 81 officials selected for the tournament, which will be played from November 19 to December 13. The list comprises 27 centre referees and 54 assistant referees.
The 34-year-old has been a FIFA-licensed referee since 2022 and is one of four centre referees selected from Africa for the tournament. Eight African assistant referees were also included in the list.
Abdulsalam has officiated at two editions of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, including the 2023 and 2026 tournaments. He was also among the Nigerian referees listed by the Nigeria Football Federation for international assignments in 2026.
Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s chief refereeing officer and chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, said the officials were selected based on their performances and ability to work as part of an international team.
“For this year’s edition, we have again brought together some of the most promising officials from every confederation,” Collina said.
“They have been selected not only for their performances, but also for their ability to work as part of an international team and meet the demands of a major FIFA tournament.”
Abdulsalam’s appointment comes despite Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets failing to qualify for the tournament after they were eliminated during the West Africa Football Union qualifying stage.
The appointment gives the Nigerian official an opportunity to officiate at a major FIFA tournament while representing the country on the international stage.
