Bakary Gassama

Bakary Gassama, born on February tenth, nineteen seventy-nine, is a distinguished Gambian football referee who has made significant contributions to the sport. He became a FIFA referee in two thousand seven, marking the beginning of a remarkable career that would see him officiate at prestigious international tournaments.

Gassama's notable achievements include serving as the fourth official during the gold medal match at the 2012 Olympic tournament, where Mexico faced Brazil. He also officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in both 2012 and 2013, as well as the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2014, showcasing his skills on a global stage.

In March 2013, FIFA recognized Gassama's potential by naming him one of the fifty referees considered for the 2014 World Cup. By January fifteenth, 2014, he was officially selected as one of the twenty-five referees for the tournament, where he officiated a crucial group stage match between the Netherlands and Chile on June twenty-third, 2014.

His expertise continued to shine as he officiated the final match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on February eighth, where Ghana faced Côte d'Ivoire. Gassama was later appointed as CAF's sole referee for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, where he officiated the Group A match between Mexico and New Zealand on June twenty-first, 2017.

Continuing his impressive trajectory, FIFA announced Gassama's selection to officiate matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, alongside his trusted assistants. His commitment to the sport remains unwavering, as he has also been selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, further solidifying his legacy in football officiating.