CAF 2025 Men's Referee of the Year Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed as the centre referee for the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup final, which will be held in Rwanda.
Artan, who hails from Somalia, will officiate the high-profile match alongside his two assistant referees; Liban Abdulrazack from Djibouti and Eliezer Stephen Yiembe from Kenya.
The appointment further enhances the reputation of the officials, who have also been selected as part of the refereeing team for the UEFA Super Cup match scheduled to take place in Salzburg on August 12.
The 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup final is expected to be played on August 7 at Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda, with East African football fans eagerly awaiting the historic tournament's title decider.
Artan has become one of Africa's most respected referees, with his CAF 2025 Men's Referee of the Year award serving as recognition of his outstanding performances in handling international matches.
His experience in major African fixtures is expected to bring quality and competitiveness to the final, which is set to be a major attraction for football fans across the East and Central African region.
