Mogadishu, (SONNA) – International referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan arrived at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu a short while ago, where he was warmly received by representatives of the government officials, Somali Football Federation, fellow Somali referees, members of civil society, and a large crowd of supporters.
Artan was named Africa’s Best Referee of 2025, a distinction that elevated Somalia’s profile on the continental and global football stage. His absence from the FIFA World Cup is widely regarded as a major loss both for him personally and for Somali football as a whole. However, he has received an overwhelming outpouring of support and solidarity from across the world in recent days.
