Omar Abdulkadir Artan, Africa's
2025 male referee of the year and the first Somali selected for the 2026 FIFA
World Cup, was denied U.S. entry last month over unspecified vetting concerns
despite valid documents.
He received a massive welcome in
Nairobi's Eastleigh on Friday, with officials like Health Cabinet Secretary
Aden Duale praising his resilience and highlighting Kenya's KSh 26.4 billion
stadium push for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Artan brushed off the setback, feeling at home with Kenyan colleagues, and looks ahead to refereeing the 2026 Super Cup final.