Nigeria’s top referees will once again fly the nation’s flag high on the international stage as they take charge of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifier between Gambia and Gabon at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA have appointed an all-Nigerian officiating crew for the crucial Group F encounter, reaffirming the country’s growing reputation for producing elite match officials on the continent.

Leading the team is Dr. Joseph Ogabor, one of Nigeria’s most respected referees and a university lecturer from the Cross River State Referees’ Council. He will be supported by Usman Olaide Abdulmajeed of Oyo State and Mahmud Yakubu of Bauchi State, who will serve as the first and second assistant referees respectively.

On standby as the fourth official is Bashir Salisu from the Kano State Referees’ Council, while retired FIFA referee Abid Cherif Mehdi of Algeria will serve as the match assessor.

This appointment marks yet another milestone for Nigerian officiating, as Dr. Ogabor and his team have consistently featured in several high-stakes World Cup preliminary matches, earning praise for their professionalism and consistency.

Their repeated selection underscores FIFA’s confidence in Nigeria’s refereeing standards and the efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to maintain global credibility in officiating.

Refereeing analysts say the consistency of Nigerian officials in global assignments is “a testament to years of investment in training, integrity, and performance under pressure.”

As Gambia and Gabon battle for crucial qualification points, all eyes will once again be on Nigeria’s finest whistlers—ensuring fair play, professionalism, and another proud moment for the nation on the world football stage.