Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate Burkina Faso’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin on September 25, 2026.
The opening-round fixture will be played at the Stade du 4-Aout in Ouagadougou, with Artan set to lead an all-Somali refereeing team.
He will be assisted by compatriots Hamza Hagi Abdi and Ali Mohamud Mahad, while Abdifatah Saed Saed Mire has been appointed as the fourth official.
Algeria’s Djamil Ould Ammar will serve as the match commissioner, with Nigerien official Attama Ibrahim Boureima taking up the role of referee assessor.
Artan is one of the most prominent referees on the African continent and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
His international profile has continued to grow, with the Somali official recently selected to referee the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.
The appointment adds another high-profile assignment to Artan’s growing list of international matches as he prepares to oversee the AFCON qualifier in Ouagadougou.
Burkina Faso and Benin will both be looking to make a positive start to their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaigns when they meet on September 25.
