Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has praised Somali referee Omar Artan following his appointment to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, describing it as a proud moment for both Africa and the refereeing profession.
Artan was selected by UEFA to take charge of the showpiece match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on 12 August, weeks after he was unable to participate in the FIFA World Cup following his denial of entry into the United States.
The appointment has been widely viewed as a significant recognition of the Somali official’s standing within world football and comes under a growing cooperation framework between UEFA and CAF.
Reacting to the announcement, Motsepe said Artan’s achievements had brought honour not only to Somalia but to the entire African continent.
“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud,” he said.
The CAF president pointed to Artan’s recent successes as evidence of his growing reputation among the world’s elite match officials.
“His CAF Men’s Referee of the Year 2025 award and his appointment to the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect he enjoys.”
Artan’s appointment to the Super Cup follows a difficult period in which he was denied the opportunity to officiate at football’s biggest tournament despite being included on FIFA’s official refereeing list.
His selection by UEFA has therefore been interpreted by many as a strong endorsement of his abilities and a signal of confidence in African officiating standards.
Motsepe also thanked UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin for supporting the initiative that led to Artan’s appointment.
“I am grateful to my friend Aleksander Čeferin for enabling him to officiate the UEFA Super Cup 2026,” he said.
The decision was made under a recently signed memorandum of understanding between UEFA and CAF, which aims to strengthen cooperation across several areas of football development, including refereeing.
For CAF, the appointment is being viewed as more than an individual achievement.
Motsepe said Artan’s selection represents an important milestone for African referees seeking greater visibility and opportunities at the highest levels of the game.
“This is a great honour for Omar Artan and African referees, and a strong example of football uniting Africa, Europe and the world.”
The Super Cup appointment ensures Artan will remain on one of football’s biggest stages despite missing out on the World Cup, while also highlighting the increasing collaboration between Europe’s and Africa’s football governing bodies.
For many across the continent, the occasion will be seen as recognition not only of one referee’s achievements but also of the growing influence and credibility of African officiating on the global stage.
