CAF Omits Somali Referee from 2026 World Cup List

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the list of African referees selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Notably absent from this list is Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a decision that has generated considerable surprise and discussion across the continent, given Artan's reputation as one of Africa's top referees in recent years.

The selected referees include Mauritanian official Dahan Beida, whose inclusion reflects his growing reputation following strong performances in African competitions. Other referees named in the list are Mustapha Ghorbal from Algeria, Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Amin Omar from Egypt, and Pierr Ghislain Atcho from Gabon.

Additionally, CAF has named video assistant referees (VAR) for the tournament, including Lahlou Benbraham from Algeria, Mahmoud Ashour from Egypt, and Letticia Viana from Eswatini. The selection process is based on the referees' experience and performance in international matches.