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 named among the match officials for this year’s tournament in Qatar.
The 34-year-old is the only Nigerian centre referee included on FIFA’s list and one of four referees from Africa selected for the competition.
In a list published on FIFA’s website on Thursday, the world football governing body named 81 officials for the tournament. The group consists of 27 referees and 54 assistant referees representing 36 member associations.
Abdulsalam’s appointment means a Nigerian centre referee will officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in 25 years.
The official has gained significant international experience, having taken part in two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, as well as several WAFU competitions.
His recent performances have also led to another major assignment, with Abdulsalam set to referee the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Cameroon and Comoros.
Abdulsalam became a FIFA-listed referee in 2022 and has maintained his international badge through the annual assessment process.
He was also the only Nigerian referee chosen for the 2025 African Nations Championship.
FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina said the officials selected for the U-17 World Cup were among the organisation’s most promising match officials.
Collina explained that the selections were determined not only by the referees’ performances but also by their ability to work effectively as part of international teams and handle the demands of a major tournament.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup will provide Abdulsalam with another opportunity to gain valuable experience on the international stage and continue his development as a top-level referee.
