Somalia president congratulates World Cup-bound referee Omar Artan / Photo: © AFP/File
-
In Manchester, people say City scandal is 'shame for football'
-
Haze pushes Kuala Lumpur, Singapore into world's most polluted cities
-
Stocks lacklustre as inflation data weighs on sentiment
-
Dangote's $16bn Kenya refinery 'new chapter' for Africa
-
Israel-bound plane rerouted, pilots wounded in reported fight
-
Ireland coach Hallgrimsson confirms second Israel game will go ahead
-
Truth commission on Sweden's Sami people seeks redress
-
Swift concert attack plan convict fails to get Disney damages
-
Energy costs spark inflation surges in France, Italy
-
Ocon to leave Haas at end of F1 season
-
South Korea break China hearts to reach Asian Games football final
-
Indonesia razes poolside prison 'villas' where whisky, TVs seized
-
Eala storms into Asian Games semi-finals to thrill adoring fans
-
Japan court rules human voice is protected in TikTok AI case
-
Turkey freezes ex-minister's assets as fund crisis grows
-
French inflation jumps to 3% in September on energy costs
-
What we know about the North Korean POW dispute
-
South Korea score late to reach Asian Games football final
-
Most equities rise after oil price plunge, US data in focus
-
Tom Kim defies jet-lag, Kho cards ace as Asian Games golf begins
-
Polar oceans transformed as warming melts ice habitats: research
-
Thai teen rocker Nene aims to tour, write music... and return to school
-
Lost shark becomes viral star in South Korea
-
Ivory Coast clamps down on harmful illegal gold rush
-
Dangote to launch $16bn refinery in Kenya
-
Nagoya mayor says sorry for Asian Games 'inconveniences'
-
North Korean leader 'extremely obese': Seoul spy agency
-
G20 trade officials meet under shadow of tariffs, overcapacity
-
Yankees and pope-backed White Sox start MLB playoffs with wins
-
India's fat dog vote goes viral
-
Malaysia's ex-PM Mahathir in hospital for observation
-
Asian Games crowds in spotlight as 998 see hosts in 50,000 stadium
-
'No limits': Marathon world record holder Sawe chasing history
-
The eight stadiums for the 2027 Rugby World Cup
-
Countdown begins to biggest-ever Rugby World Cup
-
Thieves swipe drugs under nose of Fiji police, swap with flour
-
Bangladesh women lose ground after quota reform
-
South Korea demands North apologise for DMZ mine blasts
-
Vietnam admits 'differing opinions' on Hanoi development
-
In Nepal's flood zone, teachers mourn students who never returned
-
Stocks temper gains as oil pares heavy losses, US data in focus
-
US Supreme Court lifts limits on third-country deportations
-
New Zealand denies breaching climate commitments to EU
-
Antonelli eager to 're-establish order' as F1 returns to Malaysia
-
Albert becomes youngest US scorer in 4-2 win over Chile
-
Paw-fect candidate: Australia finds new koala rescue dog
-
Pirate island's plunging population shows Greece's demographic decline
-
One third of world population exposed to harmful air pollution: monitor
-
With elections ahead, Latvia's Russian-speakers reject Moscow's help
-
North Korea denies South's claim it was apparently behind DMZ mine blasts
Somalia president congratulates World Cup-bound referee Omar Artan
Somalia president Hassan Mohamud congratulated football referee Omar Artan who has made history as the first Somalian to be selected to officiate at the World Cup finals.
Artan, 34, was among the 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the June-July finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
President Mohamud said Artan had raised Somalia's reputation on the international stage.
"I commend the effort, professionalism, and integrity shown by referee Omar, as he has become a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis," said Mohamud.
It is not the first time that Artan has been a groundbreaker in a nation that has never qualified for an international football tournament.
Artan has been officiating in the Somali national football league championships since he became a FIFA referee in 2018.
He made his mark as the first Somalia-born referee to officiate in an African Football Confederation (CAF) Champions League game between Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC in Cairo in January 2025.
He has also officiated at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Algeria, and in 2025 he was named by CAF as the best men's referee of year.
However, he played no part in the AFCON finals in Morocco earlier this year despite being picked as a tournament referee.
Somalia can still dream of reaching the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, after they beat Mauritius 4-2 on penalties in March to qualify for the group stage for the first time.
The finals will be co-hosted for the first time by the three east African nations of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
S.Spengler--VB
