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Nigeria’s Abdulsalam ends 25-year wait for U-17 World Cup centre referee
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 selected among the match officials for this year’s tournament in Qatar.
The 34-year-old is the only Nigerian centre referee on FIFA’s list and one of four referees selected from Africa for the competition.
FIFA announced that 81 officials had been appointed for the tournament, comprising 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations on Thursday.
Abdulsalam’s appointment represents the first time in 25 years that a Nigerian centre referee will officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The referee has built significant international experience, having officiated at two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments as well as several WAFU competitions.
His recent performances have also earned him another major assignment, with Abdulsalam scheduled to referee the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying fixture between Cameroon and Comoros.
In 2022, he became a FIFA-listed referee and has retained his international badge through the annual assessment process. He was also the only Nigerian referee selected 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.
According to Collina, the appointments were based not only on the referees’ performances but also on their ability to work effectively within international teams and cope with the demands of a major tournament.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup will provide Abdulsalam with another opportunity to gain valuable experience on the global stage while continuing his development as an international referee.