- Confederation of African Football confirms referees for 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan left out of final list
- Five center referees selected to represent Africa
- Tournament will be hosted by United States, Mexico, and Canada
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the African referees and Video Assistant Referees (VAR) selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the omission of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan sparking widespread debate across the continent.
The announcement of Africa’s officiating representatives for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has generated discussion among football fans and analysts following the absence of Omar Abdulkadir Artan from the final list.
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Artan has been regarded as one of Africa’s top referees in recent years and was widely tipped as a strong candidate to officiate at the global tournament.
However, his name was missing from the final roster released by the Confederation of African Football, surprising many observers.
According to reports, the center referees selected to represent Africa at the tournament include:
• Mustapha Ghorbal – Algeria
• Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo – DR Congo
• Amin Omar – Egypt
• Pierre Ghislain Atcho – Gabon
• Dahane Beida – Mauritania
These officials will officiate matches during the expanded 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by United States, Mexico, and Canada.
On the technology side, CAF also confirmed the African officials selected to serve as Video Assistant Referees (VAR).
The VAR delegation includes:
• Lahlou Benbraham
• Mahmoud Ashour
• Letticia Viana
The selections highlight CAF’s continued efforts to ensure strong African representation in officiating at the global level.
However, the exclusion of Omar Abdulkadir Artan remains one of the most talked-about aspects of the announcement, with many fans questioning the decision.