Omar Artan will stand at the centre of one of European football's most prestigious fixtures this summer, appointed to referee the Uefa Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa. For a Somali official to hold that whistle at that level is a moment worth sitting with.
The appointment comes after Artan was denied a place at the World Cup, a setback that could have defined the narrative around his career. Instead, it reads more like a detour than a dead end.
The Super Cup, which brings together the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League, is among the most watched single matches on the continental calendar. Having Artan in charge puts a Somali referee on a stage that very few African officials have ever reached.
There is no word yet on what blocked his World Cup path, but the Uefa nod suggests the confidence of football's governing bodies in his ability has not wavered. Watch this space.
Originally published by BBC Africa.