Kenyan referee Stephen Yiembe has landed a major gig at the FIFA Club World Cup after getting selected for Real Madrid’s decisive match against Salzburg.
Kenyan referee Stephen Yiembe is set for his biggest assignment in his career as he has been selected as a match official for the FIFA Club World Cup clash between European giants Real Madrid and Austrian side RB Salzburg.
Yiembe will be the second assistant referee for the match, scheduled for Friday, June 27th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game kicks off at 4:00 AM East African Time.
The officiating team will have a strong African presence with Mauritania's Beida Dahane as the center referee and Angola's Jerson Santos as the first assistant referee. China's Ning Ma will be the reserve referee.
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This appointment marks a career highlight for Yiembe, representing the most high-profile match he has officiated in his distinguished career spanning over a decade.
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Which Other Match Has Yiembe Officiated?
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Yiembe was the only Kenyan official selected for the tournament, highlighting his growing reputation in the world of football officiating.
The Nakuru-born match official has steadily climbed the ranks, officiating at major events like the Paris 2024 Olympics and the CAF Champions League semi-final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly this year.
Yiembe’s first match at the Club World Cup was the clash between Inter Milan and Urawa Red Diamonds on June 21 when he served as second assistant referee.
Friday's game is the final group stage match and carries significant weight in determining which teams advance and the final group standings. Real Madrid currently lead Group H with four points, tied with Salzburg, but hold a superior goal difference.
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Kenyan referees Stephen Yiembe and Gilbert Cheruiyot have been showered with praise for overseeing an incident-free CAF Champions League final.
Given the high stakes, the African officiating trio will be under pressure to deliver a top-level and impartial performance.