African referees Ali Mohammed Adim Alayat of Libya and Malika Nada Chihaoui of Algeria have been selected by FIFA to officiate at the men’s and women’s futsal tournaments at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

The two match officials are among 21 referees appointed by FIFA for the competition, which will run from November 1 to 12, marking another opportunity for African officials to represent the continent on the international stage.

Alayat and Chihaoui are the two representatives of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the list, which features referees from all six continental confederations.

Their selection highlights Africa’s representation in the officiating team for the second edition of the futsal tournaments at the Summer Youth Olympic Games, with the pair expected to contribute to the smooth running of the competition.

The tournaments will feature 16 teams, comprising eight men’s and eight women’s sides, with matches scheduled to take place at the Dakar Arena and the Iba Mar Diop Complex.

The appointed referees will oversee 32 matches, beginning with the women’s encounter between Costa Rica and the Islamic Republic of Iran on November 1 before the men’s final brings the competition to a close on November 12.

The Dakar 2026 event will be the second time futsal has featured at the Summer Youth Olympic Games, following the inaugural appearance in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2018. Brazil won the men’s gold medal at that edition, while Portugal claimed the women’s title.

The 2026 Games will be particularly significant for Senegal, which was originally scheduled to host the 2022 edition before the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Alayat and Chihaoui among the selected officials, CAF will have representation throughout the international futsal showcase, which brings together emerging talent and match officials from across the world.