Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been voted the 2025 African referee of the year after a season of outstanding performances in major continental competitions. His journey from Mogadishu's local leagues to Africa's highest officiating honor has been hailed as an inspiration for Somali youth.
Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been voted the 2025 African referee of the year, a landmark achievement that has brought pride to Somalia's sports community and elevated the nation's profile in international football officiating.
Artan was shortlisted alongside two experienced referees from South Africa and Mauritius in a closely contested category. After a comprehensive assessment process, the Confederation of African Football's awards committee announced that Artan had secured the continent's top refereeing honor for the year, recognizing his exceptional form throughout the season.
Artan's journey to continental recognition has been shaped by years of persistence and steady progress through Somalia's football ranks. He began his refereeing career officiating local league games in Mogadishu, often working in challenging environments while demonstrating discipline, accuracy and deep knowledge of the rules. His strong domestic performance earned him selection for regional CECAFA tournaments, where he quickly gained a reputation for calm decision-making and fairness under pressure.
As his skills continued to draw attention, Artan was promoted to officiate CAF Champions League matches and AFCON qualifiers, stages where he consistently delivered error-free, confident officiating. His ability to maintain control of high-intensity games, communicate clearly with players and apply the laws of the game with precision made him one of the most trusted match officials on the continent.
CAF officials said his selection for the 2025 award was based on a combination of technical excellence, professionalism and exemplary conduct during some of the year's most demanding fixtures. They noted that Artan's performances have set a new benchmark for refereeing within the region.
The award solidifies Artan's status as one of Africa's elite referees and represents a significant milestone for Somalia, whose sporting sector has been steadily rebuilding in recent years. His success has inspired many young Somali athletes and officials who hope to follow in his footsteps and break into the global sports arena.