Kenyan referee Stephen Yiembe is the only official from the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) region selected for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in America.

Yiembe, who boasts a wealth of experience at the international level, will act as an assistant official alongside other world-class referees in the tournament set for June 14 to July 13, 2025.

Yiembe was also among the 89 match officials selected to officiate at the Paris Olympics 2024.

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.

This was after Yiembe’s offside decision after Homeboyz’ striker Moses Shummah scored a late goal against perennial Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia in a FKFPL match at the Mumias Stadium.

Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula indicated Yiembe’s decisions were dubious on at least 10 occasions during the game.

The linesman’s decision to raise his flag against Shummah’s goal appeared to be wrong upon review, as the striker was captured in freeze frames as being onside.