Nigeria may not have the Golden Eaglets at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, but the country will have an important representative on the pitch. Zamfara-born referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam has been selected as a centre referee for the tournament in Qatar, ending Nigeria’s 25-year absence in that category. His appointment crowns a steady rise through domestic football, WAFU and CAF competitions to the FIFA stage.
Nigeria will have something significant to celebrate at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar even without the Golden Eaglets at the tournament.
Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam will carry the country’s flag as a centre referee after earning a place among the match officials selected by FIFA for the competition.
For Nigerian refereeing, it is an appointment with history.
The 34-year-old Zamfara-born official becomes Nigeria’s first centre referee at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 25 years, bringing an end to a long absence for the country in one of the most important officiating roles at a FIFA tournament.
FIFA selected 81 match officials which include 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations for the competition. Abdulsalam is the only Nigerian centre referee on the list and one of four from Africa.
His selection is not an isolated breakthrough. It is the latest step in a career that has gradually moved from Nigerian domestic football through West African and continental competitions to the global stage.
A Steady Climb
Abdulsalam became a FIFA-listed international referee in 2022 and has retained his place through the annual assessment process for international match officials. His progress since then has been consistent.
He has officiated at WAFU competitions and was selected for the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in both 2023 and 2026, experiences which exposed him to international tournament football and some of Africa’s best young players.
Another major recognition came when he was selected for the 2025 African Nations Championship, CHAN. Abdulsalam was Nigeria’s only centre referee chosen for the competition, further establishing him among the country’s leading match officials.
His growing continental profile has also brought senior international assignments. He was appointed to officiate the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter between Cameroon and Comoros played on Thursday September 24th, 2026 in Yaounde, another indication of the confidence being placed in him at CAF level.
Now comes his biggest platform yet — a FIFA World Cup.
Breaking A Long Nigerian Wait
Nigeria has produced several respected referees over the years, but opportunities for the country’s centre referees at FIFA’s major competitions have been scarce.
That makes Abdulsalam’s appointment particularly important.
For 25 years, Nigeria had gone without a centre referee at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. His selection therefore represents more than an individual achievement; it puts Nigerian refereeing back in the spotlight at a global competition.
It is also significant that his appointment comes at a tournament for which Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets did not qualify. While the country’s players will be absent, Abdulsalam will ensure the Nigerian flag is represented among those entrusted with managing matches.
Recognition From FIFA
FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina said the officials selected for the competition are among FIFA’s most promising referees, with appointments based on performances and their capacity to work effectively in an international environment.
That places Abdulsalam among a carefully selected group being assessed not only for the U-17 World Cup but potentially for bigger responsibilities in the future.
Modern international refereeing demands far more than making decisions during 90 minutes. Fitness, positioning, communication, consistency and the ability to work with technology have become central to the job.
The U-17 World Cup will provide Abdulsalam with another opportunity to demonstrate those qualities under FIFA’s scrutiny.
From Nigeria To The world
For Abdulsalam, Qatar represents another important destination in a journey built one assignment at a time.
From domestic football in Nigeria, he progressed to WAFU competitions. CAF subsequently trusted him at youth tournaments before opportunities followed at CHAN and senior international level.
FIFA has now opened the next door.
At 34, Abdulsalam also has time on his side. A successful tournament in Qatar could strengthen his prospects for more prominent CAF and FIFA assignments in the years ahead.
His appointment should equally provide encouragement to other Nigerian referees aspiring to reach international competitions.
The significance of his achievement is therefore difficult to overlook. Twenty-five years after Nigeria last had a centre referee at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Abdulsalam will walk onto the pitch in Qatar with a whistle in his hand and the country’s badge attached to his identity.
