CAF LEAVES OUT NIGERIAN REFEREES AGAIN FOR AFCON TRAINING

By: Gyang Dakwo

The Confederation of African Football has once again left Nigerian referees out of its training programme for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, and this has raised fresh concern about the standard of officiating in the country.

Last Friday, CAF released a list of ninety-four officials, instructors, and assessors who will take part in the preparatory course, and none of them is from Nigeria. The development has drawn attention to the gap in the quality and readiness of Nigerian referees for major international tournaments.

The President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Sanni Zubair, confirmed that the country’s officials did not meet CAF’s strict requirements. He explained that the selection was based on tough fitness and theory tests, and the Nigerian candidates did not pass.

He said, “It is because we are not qualified to be there. Being a FIFA referee does not mean you are qualified. The only elite referee that we have did not pass the test when he went for it.”

Reports also show that the lack of experience with the Video Assistant Referee system was another reason why no Nigerian made the list.

Zubair said the association is now working closely with the Nigeria Football Federation to help more referees reach the elite level needed for continental competitions. He explained that the training and testing process is ongoing and that progress is possible with time.

“We have referees in the country, but it is like being in a university where we have different levels. Every year, we have courses and exams, and we hope our referees will be invited for elite tests soon. We have many FIFA referees, and once they are invited for the elite course and pass it, we will be back on track,” he said.

In February, the NFF issued FIFA badges to thirty officials, including eleven referees, eleven assistants, and others for futsal and beach soccer. However, most of them have held their FIFA status for several years without moving up to the elite group that qualifies for tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations.