The lack of Nigerian referees at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast has drawn the attention of the Nigerian football community and generated a lot of discussion.
This break brings an astonishing drought to an end: since 2006, no Nigerian referee has held the main position at the AFCON—a span of eighteen years that parallels the country’s absence from officiating at international competitions.
During a training session in Abidjan, Desire Noumandiez Doue, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Head of Refereeing, clarified the rationale for this choice.
Doue highlighted the need for Nigerian referees to step up their game in order to meet CAF’s standards, citing performance concerns as the main cause of their exclusion.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has responded by saying that it takes this exclusion seriously.
A board member representing the South-South area, Honorable Nse Udofot Essien, expressed the board’s displeasure and emphasized the federation’s commitment to redressing issue.
The NFF, led by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, is preparing to guarantee that Nigerian referees obtain the necessary instruction in VAR and other cutting-edge technologies.
This dedication is emphasized in Essien’s statement. “The President has pledged that our referees will receive training on sophisticated technologies, including VAR. To make sure our men follow international best practices on par with their peers, constant consultations are taking place with CAF and FIFA,” he stated.