FIFA Referee Champions Growth Of Futsal In Nigeria

By: Gyang Dakwo

Nigeria’s lone FIFA Futsal referee, Dung Musa Davou, has expressed his desire to see Nigeria among the top Futsal Nations of the world.

Davou is the only Nigerian among the eight Africans that officiated at the just concluded Futsal AFCON in Rabat, Morocco.

Speaking with Abuja Digest from Rabat, via telephone, the celebrated FIFA badged referee who hails from Plateau state, said his experiences in officiating Futsal – both at the 2020 and 2024 Afcon- have left him with a hunger to see Nigeria participating in the game on a big stage.

According to him Nigeria has the potential of becoming a great Futsal nation judging by the talents that abound, adding that what is needed is for that potential to be properly harnessed.

He therefore called on football administrators and stakeholders to adopt a strategic approach that will take what is popularly known as “5 – A- Side” football and develop it so that Futsal can grow in the country.

A teacher by profession, Davou who teaches Visual Arts in St John’s College Jos, said he has plans to popularize the game and use it to better the lot of youths in the society.

“I have something in mind, how can this game of Futsal be promoted in Jos in particular, in Plateau and in the country entirely because people don’t know much about it. So I am look at getting boys together and teaching them about the game and I am also working on organizing an competition so that it will encourage participation and help keep the youths busy and engaged. I have spoken with the Plateau FA Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Kwande just day before yesterday and he promised to assist in that regard”

Davou who said he ” feels good and happy” to be recognized and selected for FIFA assignments, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s football administration and called for more to be done to change the narrative of football refereeing in Nigeria. He therefore solicited for more support in terms of training and equipment so that Nigerian referees can give their best at all times.

He said the challenges are there and so the enabling environment to surmount them must be created. Giving instance to how the notice to participate in the tournament came to him four days prior to departure but with the support of the Nigeria Football Federation, visa and logistics was taken care of in time.

For him, the dream to officiate at the world cup is on track as he revealed that he has been shortlisted among the eight African referees out of which five will be selected to officiate at the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.