Proud moment as Kenyan referee Stephen Yiembe lands historic UEFA Super Cup role

Kenyan assistant referee Stephen Yiembe is set to make history after being appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup on August 12 at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany.

The Nakuru-born official will become the first Kenyan match official to serve in a UEFA club competition, marking another major milestone in his fast-rising refereeing career.

His appointment comes under the UEFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) referee exchange programme, which aims to strengthen cooperation in referee development and elite match appointments.

Yiembe will serve as Assistant Referee 1 alongside Djibouti's Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed, while Somali referee Omar Artan has been named the centre referee for the match, according to FKF's reportage.

The UEFA Super Cup, played annually between the winners of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, is one of Europe's biggest club football fixtures.

Congratulating Yiembe, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) described the appointment as a proud moment for the country.

"Congratulations to our own Stephen Yiembe on his historic appointment as Assistant Referee for the UEFA Super Cup. Your dedication, professionalism and excellence continue to raise Kenya's flag on the global stage. We wish you all the best as you make history," FKF said.

Yiembe has steadily built an impressive international résumé. In 2025, FIFA selected him among 118 match officials for the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, making him the only East African official on the list.

He also served as Assistant VAR 2 during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal and previously officiated the 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Egypt. He was also part of the officiating team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The appointment has also been warmly received by football fans, with many praising Yiembe for flying Kenya's flag on the international stage.

One fan, identified as @AUGUSTINES69833, wrote: "Go represent the flag of Kenya. If UEFA recognise Kenyan referees, why can't the federation do the same and curb this issue of match-fixing?"