The 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has been appointed to officiate the final of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Interim Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Jean Sseninde.
The Somali referee will be assisted by Liban Abdulrazack of Djibouti and Kenya’s Eliezer Stephen Yiembe during the final, scheduled for August 7 at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
The trio has also been selected to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa at Salzburg on August 12, making the CECAFA Kagame Cup final an important preparatory assignment ahead of the prestigious European fixture.
“On behalf of CECAFA, I warmly welcome Artan back to our region as he officiates the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026. Artan has become a symbol of excellence in African refereeing, and his remarkable achievements continue to inspire young match officials across the continent,” said Sseninde.
The officials are expected to arrive in Kigali on Tuesday ahead of the tournament’s final stages.
CECAFA President Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam praised Artan’s appointment, describing it as a reflection of the region’s growing contribution to world football officiating.
“His presence at our flagship competition reflects the high standards that CECAFA is committed to promoting, and we are proud that one of our own continues to represent Africa with distinction on the world stage,” he said.
Meanwhile, the CECAFA Kagame Cup semi-finals will be played on August 4. Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC will face Sudan’s Al Hilal SC, while hosts Rayon Sports FC will take on South Sudan’s Jamus SC for a place in the final.
