Seasoned Kenyan referee Stephen Yiembe’s hopes of officiating at the prestigious 2025 FIFA Club World Cup have hit a major setback after he was denied a visa to the United States, the host nation for the tournament.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news Yiembe, the only match official selected from the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) region, was among 117 elite referees and assistant referees picked by FIFA for the expanded edition of the Club World Cup.Two kids left in shock after Victor Wanyama surprises them with gifts [VIDEO]The 32-team tournament, 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, four from Asia, four from Africa, four from North, Central America and the Caribbean, one from Oceania, will run from Saturday, 14 June to Sunday, 13 July across 12 stadiums in 11 host cities in the U.S.Unless he successfully appeals the decision in the coming weeks, the seasoned official could miss out on what was expected to be the most high-profile assignment of his career.##NAJAVA_MECA_8916380##Yiembe’s selection for the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup marked a significant milestone, not just for himself but also for East African football.The Nakuru-born referee has been a regular fixture on the international scene in recent years, making his continental debut at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, where he officiated the Tunisia vs Namibia match alongside fellow Kenyan Gilbert Cheruiyot.Kenya U20 coach lists four lessons picked from U20 AFCONIn 2023, he also handled duties at the AFCON U-23 final between Egypt and Morocco and followed it up with a spot in the officiating team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.There, he joined a select group of officials from East Africa, including Uganda’s Shamira Nabadda, Djibouti’s Ahmed Liban, and Sudan’s Ismail Mahmood Ali.##NAJAVA_MECA_8917067##Yiembe was set to work alongside world-renowned referees such as Poland’s Szymon Marciniak (2022 FIFA World Cup final), England’s Michael Oliver, and Germany’s Felix Zwayer at the Club World Cup.
