After 25 years, FIFA has selected a Nigerian centre referee for the U-17 World Cup, with Zamfara-born official Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam named among the match officials for this year’s tournament in Qatar.
The 34-year-old is the only Nigerian centre referee on the list and one of four referees selected from Africa. FIFA named 81 officials for the competition, comprising 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations.
Abdulsalam became a FIFA-listed referee in 2022 and has officiated at two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, alongside several WAFU competitions. He was also Nigeria’s only referee selected for the 2025 African Nations Championship and is scheduled to handle the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between Cameroon and Comoros.
FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina said the officials were selected from among the organisation’s most promising match officials, with performance, teamwork and their ability to handle the demands of major tournaments considered. The U-17 World Cup assignment gives Abdulsalam another opportunity to build his international experience on the global stage.
