2026 calendar year: Referee Barikisu Salifu makes list of 23 officials for FIFA approved Matches

Details

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

Date: 30th December, 2025.

Tamale-based Referee Salifu Barikisu has been included in the list of Ghanaian Referees approved by FIFA to officiate international matches for the 2026 calendar year.

Barikisu Salifu made history after becoming the first female referee from the Northern Region to receive her FIFA Badge in 2023. She was among the list of 22 Ghanaian Referees to Receive their FIFA badges in 2023.

Barikisu has been a central pillar in CAF and GFA’s sanctioned matches across the continent and country respectively following outstanding performance in the game.

The approved list features a total of 23 officials, comprising 10 Centre Referees, 10 Assistant Referees, one Futsal Referee, one Beach Soccer, Referee and one Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

FIFA has officially released the list of Ghanaian referees approved to officiate international matches for the 2026 calendar year.