{
  "id": 9546260,
  "title": "FIFA names Nigerian referee among 81 officials for U-17 World Cup",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/fifa-names-nigerian-referee-among-81-officials-for-u-17-world-cup-9546260",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T11:40:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/fifa-names-nigerian-referee-among-81-officials-for-u-17-world-cup/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigeria's Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam will become the first Nigerian centre referee to officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after being selected among the 81 officials for the tournament in Qatar. The 34-year-old official, who has extensive international experience, was one of four referees chosen from Africa for the competition. FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina highlighted Abdulsalam's selection as being based on his performances and ability to function effectively within international teams during a major tournament.",
  "summary": "FIFA has selected Nigerian referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam among 81 officials for the U-17 World Cup, ending a 25-year wait for the country. Read More: https://punchng.com/fifa-names-nigerian-referee-among-81-officials-for-u-17-world-cup/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "FIFA names Nigerian referee among 81 officials for U-17 World Cup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/fifa-names-nigerian-referee-among-81-officials-for-u-17-world-cup",
        "published": "2026-09-24T11:28:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}