FIFA has selected 36 match officials (referees and support referees) for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and our very own Bakary Papa Gassama, Africa’s finest referee, will be among them.
Papa Gassama is among six African referees also selected to officiate at the global showpiece. He joins Malang Diedhou (Senegal), Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria), Ghead Grisha (Egypt), Janny Sikazwe (Zambia) and Bamlak Tessema (Ethiopia). The selected referees will attend a preparatory seminar on 25-29 November 2017 and once this is completed, the final list with specific roles will be announced.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be yet another major tournament that Gassama will feature, having officiated at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2017 CAF Champions League Final, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2012 Olympics and countless other high-profile engagements.
