The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has commended the remarkable performance of Nigerian referees in the annual Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA , fitness test conducted in Abuja.
All 30 participating referees passed the rigorous exercise, meeting global standards for officiating in international competitions in 2025.
NFF Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi, attributed the feat to the federation’s commitment to referee development and its partnership with Premium Trust Bank, which provided critical support for training programs.
Sanusi described the achievement as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the referees, expressing optimism that they will become great ambassadors for Nigerian football on the global stage.
He said the NFF would build on the success to elevate the country’s football standards, with Nigerian referees now poised to officiate in major tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup.
Among the newly decorated arbiters are 22 men and eight women, including 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four futsal referees, and four beach soccer referees.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has begun scouting for local talents to strengthen the team for the next World Cup qualifying campaign.
The NFF also assured that concerns raised by Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong about distractions from drumming and noise during matches will be addressed.
NAN
