By Teddy Nwanunobi
FIFA’s appointment of Zamfara State-born official, Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam, as a centre referee at the FIFA U-17 World Cup will end Nigeria’s 25-year-old wait for a centre referee.
Daily NewsCraft reports that the 34-year-old is the only Nigerian centre referee on FIFA’s list selected among the match officials for this year’s tournament in Qatar.
Abdulsalam is also one of four referees selected from Africa for the competition.
In a post obtained from FIFA’s website on Thursday, FIFA named 81 officials for the tournament, comprising 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations.
Abdulsalam’s selection marks the first time in 25 years that a Nigerian centre referee will officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The official has built considerable international experience, having participated in 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, as he is scheduled to referee the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between Cameroon and Comoros.
Abdulsalam became a FIFA-listed referee in 2022 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.
Collina said the appointments were based not only on the officials’ performances but also on their ability to operate effectively within international teams and cope with the demands of a major tournament.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup will give Abdulsalam another opportunity to gain experience on the global stage and further his development as an international referee.