Nigeria will return to the centre stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup with the appointment of Zamfara-born referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam for this year’s tournament in Qatar.
The 34-year-old official is the only Nigerian centre referee named among the match officials for the competition, ending a 25-year wait for a Nigerian to occupy the role at the youth World Cup.
FIFA announced the appointment of 81 match officials for the tournament, with the list comprising 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations.
Abdulsalam’s selection comes after several years of international experience. He has officiated at two editions of the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and has also handled matches in various WAFU competitions.
The referee, who became FIFA-listed in 2022, has maintained his international badge through the annual assessment process. He was also Nigeria’s only referee selected for the 2025 African Nations Championship.
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His latest appointment adds to a growing list of international assignments, with Abdulsalam also scheduled to officiate the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Cameroon and Comoros.
FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina said the officials chosen for the U-17 World Cup were selected based on their performances and their ability to work effectively as part of international officiating teams while handling the demands of a major tournament.
The Qatar tournament will therefore provide Abdulsalam with another opportunity to officiate on the global stage and further build his international experience.