Nigerian referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam has been selected for the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar, placing him among the match officials appointed for the tournament beginning in November.
Abdulsalam is the only Nigerian on the list of 81 officials. FIFA selected 27 centre referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 associations, with four of the centre referees coming from Africa.
The 34-year-old has held a FIFA badge since 2022 and has officiated at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations. His selection takes him from continental youth tournaments to a global competition scheduled to run from November 19 to December 13.
FIFA’s chief refereeing officer, Pierluigi Collina, said the officials were chosen for their performances and their ability to work as part of an international team. Abdulsalam will now prepare alongside referees from the other confederations for the demands of a month-long World Cup.
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Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets did not qualify for the tournament, leaving Abdulsalam as the country’s representative among the officials.
His appointment also continues Nigerian involvement in FIFA tournaments through officiating: Mimisen Iyorhe Calvin-Onwuka served as an assistant referee at the 2022 U20 Women’s World Cup.
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