NFF President decries exclusion of Nigerian referees from international tournaments

By Olaolu Joseph

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has expressed concern over the continued exclusion of Nigerian referees from major international football tournaments.

Speaking on the issue Wednesday in Abuja, the NFF boss acknowledged the challenges but also pointed to the progress being made to reverse the trend. “Whenever I open the internet and see FIFA and CAF referees’ lists without a Nigerian, I always have sleepless nights,” he said.

Gusau recalled his earlier promise to ensure Nigerian referees officiate at the highest levels of the game. “I directed young referees to undergo MA Elite Courses, and from that, 20 were picked for special training.”

He noted that ten of those selected are now officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and performing excellently. “One is even heading for the Women’s Nations Cup in Morocco,” he added.

The NFF president reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling all electoral promises made before the end of his tenure. He highlighted key achievements already recorded by his administration, including the alignment of the domestic league calendar with global standards.

“I promised Nigerians that our Professional Football League would align with international calendars. This season, our Premier League ends the same day as the English Premier League, which is a great achievement,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria now has a structured calendar with no more unnecessary stoppages. “We now start when we announce and end when we announce,” he affirmed.

Gusau also emphasized that the calendar alignment extends beyond the NPFL, including the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), reflecting a broader vision for inclusive and systematic development across Nigerian football.