Kenyan match official Yiembe Stephen will be the only representative from East Africa at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

As an assistant referee, he has officiated at major competitions in recent years, including the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Paris 2024 Olympics, and the U23 AFCON finals. He also officiated the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Under 23 final, pitting Egypt and Morocco in 2023.

Other top officials in the list include 2022 FIFA World Cup final referee Szymon Marciniak, popular English Premier League referee Michael Oliver and Bundesliga’s Felix Zwayer.

Earlier in the year, Yiembe was subject to controversy, after Kakamega Homeboyz wrote to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) requesting that the official be barred from officiating any of their matches.