Ghana’s Adimah Aziz Earns FIH World Cup Qualifier Playoff
Ghanaian international hockey umpire Adimah Aziz has been invited to officiate at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Men’s World Cup Qualifier Playoffs, scheduled to take place in Ismailia, Egypt, from March 1 to 7, 2026.
Aziz’s appointment follows a strong run of performances at both local and continental levels.
He has officiated 37 international matches as an umpire and served as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in six games across countries including England, the USA, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Austria, China, and Egypt. In recent times, Aziz was the Video Assistant Referee for the final between Korea and Kazakhstan at the Asian Cup held in Bihar, India, in 2025.
He also took charge as umpire for the final of the 15th National Games of China, further cementing his growing reputation on the global stage.
Speaking after his appointment, Aziz expressed gratitude for the opportunity, “as a Ghanaian, I feel very proud for this appointment.
The last appointment I had was for the Africa qualifiers in Ismailia, and this is more or less a step up because of the performance I put up there. It is a recognition of the work I did during the African qualifiers.
This is an FIH World Cup event reserved for top umpires who have excelled in their various continents.”
“When asked whether the call up comes with pressure? Aziz responded, "Not really." It’s something my team and I have been working towards, so there’s no pressure. But it is a top-level hockey event, which means our preparation must be at the highest level to achieve the desired results.
The aim is always to reach the World Cup proper or even the Olympics. When you’re there and your country is not competing, you represent your nation. People view your performance from different angles, but we learn from our mistakes and continue to improve.”
“I’ve picked up a few lessons here and there from the recent ACCC abd other tournaments that I will continue to work on ahead of upcoming competitions. Once you understand the rules, push yourself, believe in your abilities, and follow the right strategies, the sky is the limit. My hope is that by the time I finish my career, there will be more Ghanaian umpires rising through the ranks — and perhaps even surpassing me, "Aziz added
Joining Aziz at the tournament will be fellow Ghanaian Isaac Graham, who will serve as a technical official. Graham is also highly experienced, with extensive involvement in both local and continental hockey competitions.
By; Victoria Kwofie
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