FIFA has omitted Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea from the 2026 World Cup officials list. This deals a blow to Ghana’s proud refereeing tradition after his controversial handling of Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 semi-final clash against Morocco.
Nigerian fans and players widely criticised Laryea following the match. Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel described his performance as “appalling” and “very wrong decisions.” The referee’s Instagram page was temporarily taken down after the backlash.
FIFA named 170 match officials for the tournament, including 52 centre referees, 88 assistants, and 30 VAR officials. Africa will be represented by seven centre referees, 10 assistants, and two VAR officials. However, no Nigerian official made the cut despite 30 Nigerians on FIFA’s 2026 international calendar.
The 7 qualified referees
The seven African referees selected are Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria), Amin Mohamed (Egypt), Pierre Atcho (Gabon), Jalal Jayed (Morocco), Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Tom Abongile (South Africa), and Omar Artan (Somalia). Importantly, Ghorbal is the most experienced. He has officiated at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Omar Artan makes history as the first Somali referee ever selected for a World Cup. The 34-year-old has been a FIFA referee since 2018 and was named CAF’s Best Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
Jean-Jacques Ndala, who officiated the chaotic AFCON 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal, was also excluded. His performance drew widespread backlash amid the title forfeiture saga that cost Senegal their crown.
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FIFA explained that selections were based on a “quality first” principle, with emphasis on consistent performances in its competitions over recent years. Furthermore, all selected officials will begin preparations with a 10-day seminar starting May 31 in Miami.
