The Council for East and Central African Football (CECAFA) has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Artan will take charge of the 2026 Kagame Cup final, set for Friday, August 7, in Kigali.
He will be assisted by Djibouti’s Liban Abdulrazack and Kenya’s Eliezer Stephen Yiembe, rounding out a regional officiating team for the continent’s marquee club showpiece.
The announcement came as the tournament reached its semi-final stage, with Rwanda’s Rayon Sport set to face South Sudan’s Jamus, while Sudan’s Al Hilal take on Kenya’s Gor Mahia on Tuesday at Pele Stadium in Kigali. The winners of those two ties will meet in the final for the Kagame Cup crown.
Artan’s appointment continues what has been a remarkable year for the Somali official. Widely regarded as one of the continent’s best referees, he made headlines in June when he was denied entry into the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup, a setback that drew sympathy and support across the football world.
Despite missing out on the global showpiece, Artan bounced back quickly, earning a prestigious appointment from UEFA for the Super Cup clash between PSG and Aston Villa.
He has also officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations and became the first Somali referee to take charge of a CAF continental final, when he oversaw Pyramids FC’s Champions League triumph over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Artan’s ties to Kenya run deep, having previously credited the Football Kenya Federation for supporting him through difficult periods of his career, including his U.S. visa ordeal.
With the Kagame Cup final now just days away, all eyes turn to Kigali, where Artan and his assistants will oversee what promises to be a fiercely contested finale to this year’s CECAFA club championship.
