NFF to badge 30 FIFA referees on Thursday
By Olaolu Joseph
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will, on Thursday morning, decorate a total of 30 referees with the badge of world football governing body FIFA, thus conferring on them the authority to officiate as international arbiters in 2025.
NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will perform the decoration alongside the Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Mrs. Faith Irabor; General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; and the Head of the NFF Refereeing Unit, Alhaji Sani Zubairu.
The breakdown includes 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four futsal referees, and four beach soccer referees. The group consists of 22 male and eight female officials. Of the 11 referees, three are female, while five of the assistant referees are women. All the futsal and beach soccer referees are male.
Only Emmanuel Omada (assistant referee), John Tope Ojeleye (futsal referee), and Noah Adejoh (beach soccer referee) are new to the FIFA category. Samuel Pwadutakam (assistant referee) and Ndubuisi Ukah (futsal referee) are the longest-serving, having been FIFA referees since 2014.
Futsal referee Dung Davou Musa has been an international official since 2015, while referee Salisu Basheer, assistant referee Tejiri Digbori, and beach soccer referee Olawale Adeolu Fawole have held FIFA badges since 2016.
Referees Hannah Elaigwu and Joseph Ogabor, along with assistant referee Abdulmajeed Olaide Usman, have been FIFA-certified since 2017.
List of Referees
Referees:
Abubakar Abdullahi, Kasimu Abiola Abdulsalam, Yemisi Akintoye, Salisu Basheer, Patrick John Egba, Hannah Elaigwu, Ndidi Madu, Grema Mohammed Mustapha, Abubakar Nurudeen, Joseph Odey Ogabor, Abigael Alaba Olufunmilayo.
Assistant Referees:
Iyadunni Abibatu Stockl, Faith Agbons, Tijjani Ahmad Mustapha, Tejiri Digbori, Hope Ogenekewe Igho, Akpan Mfon Friday, Muhamud Yakubu Muhammad, Emmanuel Omada, Samuel Pwadutakam, Beauty Kabeda Terah, Abdulmajeed Olaide Usman.
Futsal Referees:
Alhassan Bello Zuru, Dung Davou Musa, John Tope Ojeleye, Ndubuisi Ukah.
Beach Soccer Referees:
Noah Adejoh, Olawale Adeolu Fawole, Olayinka Olajide, Ahmad Rabiu.
