By Wale Mustapha
FIFA has appointed Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Omar to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
The match will be played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time.
Omar will be assisted by three other Egyptian officials. Mahmoud Abouelregal will serve as assistant referee 1, Ahmed Tawfik Ali as assistant referee 2, and Mahmoud Moustafa Elbana as the fourth official.
Jason Joseph Damoo from Seychelles will act as the referee assessor. Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana has been named match commissioner, while Xolile Vilakati from eSwatini will serve as the security officer for the game.
Both Nigeria and Benin Republic are still competing for a place in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The match is expected to be crucial in deciding the fate of Group C.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
