History has been made in Nigerian football officiating as Zamfara-born referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam has been selected to officiate at the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, ending a 25-year wait for a Nigerian centre referee at the tournament.

The 34-year-old official is the sole Nigerian centre referee to make the prestigious global list, standing out as one of only four referees selected from the entire African continent. According to an official release by FIFA on Thursday, the Referees Committee named 81 match officials—consisting of 27 centre referees and 54 assistant referees—representing 36 member associations.

Abdulsalam’s historic call-up reflects his meteoric rise since earning his FIFA international badge in 2022. He has consistently retained his elite status through rigorous annual assessments and previously served as the only Nigerian referee selected for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

His impressive resume includes officiating at two separate CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments alongside various WAFU regional competitions. Validating his growing continental reputation, Abdulsalam has also been designated to referee the crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Cameroon and Comoros.

The Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, emphasized that the selected officials represent the global body`s most promising talent. Collina noted that the appointments were strictly merit-based, evaluating not just on-field performances but also the officials` ability to work seamlessly within international teams and withstand the high-pressure environment of a World Cup.

For Abdulsalam, the Qatar tournament offers a monumental platform to showcase his skills on the world stage, marking a significant milestone for the development of football officiating in Nigeria.