Nigeria will end a 25-year wait for a centre referee at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after Zamfara-born official Abiola Abdulsalam was selected among the match officials for this year's tournament in Qatar.

The 34-year-old is the only Nigerian centre referee on FIFA's list and one of four referees selected from Africa for the competition.

FIFA has named 81 officials for the tournament, comprising 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations.

Abdulsalam's selection marks the first time in 25 years that a Nigerian centre referee will officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The official has gained international experience through two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and several WAFU competitions.

He became a FIFA-listed referee in 2022 and has retained his international badge through the annual assessment process. Abdulsalam was also the only Nigerian referee selected for the 2025 African Nations Championship.

Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, said the officials selected were among FIFA's most promising match officials.