Shamirah Nabadda Named Among Referees for 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup

Ugandan FIFA referee Shamirah Nabadda has been appointed among the match officials for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Poland.

Nabadda is one of three match officials from the CECAFA region selected to officiate at the prestigious global tournament.

The 2025 CAF Female Referee of the Year is among Africa’s most experienced referees, having officiated at several major international competitions.

The tournament will feature 18 centre referees from across the world, with Nabadda earning one of the coveted appointments.

Burundi’s Fides Bangurambona has also been selected as an assistant referee, while Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga will serve as a Video Match Official (VAR), bringing the total number of CECAFA officials at the tournament to three.

CECAFA Head of Refereeing Ali Ahmed congratulated the selected officials and expressed confidence in their performances.

“The selected referees are outstanding officials who will proudly fly the CECAFA flag. Their appointment is a great achievement for both the region and their individual careers. We have every confidence that they will perform excellently in every match. I wish them all the best at the World Cup,” he said.

Nabadda, who earned her FIFA badge in 2018, has officiated at some of the biggest tournaments in world football, including the Paris Olympic Games, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the African Nations Championship (CHAN), and the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, among others.

Other African countries represented among the tournament’s match officials include Zambia, Mali, and Namibia.

The 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup will be held in Poland from September 5 to 27.

A total of 24 teams will compete for the title, with Africa represented by Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, and Tanzania, the latter being the only East African nation to qualify for the tournament.