FIFA has selected Nigerian referee Kasimu Abdulsalam to officiate at the 2026 FIFA Men’s Under-17 World Cup in Qatar. Both outlets report that he is among 81 officials chosen for the tournament, including four centre referees selected from Africa.
One outlet highlights that Abdulsalam is the only Nigerian referee on the list. The other notes he is one of four centre referees chosen from Africa for the annual competition. Both also describe FIFA’s process, including remarks by FIFA’s chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina, who says the selected officials are among the “most promising” and are chosen for performance and ability to work in an international team.
The reports add background on Abdulsalam’s experience and eligibility. Nigerian Eye says he has been a FIFA-licensed official since 2022 and officiated as a centre referee at U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2023 and 2026. It also notes Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets miss the tournament after failing to advance beyond the WAFU stage of qualifiers, while the other outlet focuses primarily on the appointment itself.
