The leadership of Nigeria’s refereeing body has rejected claims that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) intentionally excluded Nigerian officials from the list of referees selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
CAF recently unveiled the roster of 73 match officials—a mix of centre referees, assistant referees and VAR specialists—set to handle games at the tournament. The absence of any Nigerian official immediately triggered public criticism, with many fans questioning how a major footballing nation like Nigeria could be omitted entirely.
However, President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Sani Zubairu, has clarified that the situation has been misunderstood. Speaking to The Telegraph, the retired FIFA referee stressed that Nigeria was not sidelined.
According to Zubairu, two Nigerian FIFA-badged officials were part of the initial selection process and were invited to CAF’s preparatory and assessment programmes in Egypt. Their exclusion came only after key evaluations.
“It’s wrong to say Nigeria was ignored,” Zubairu explained. “We were invited. Our centre referee and assistant referee attended the course in Egypt, but unfortunately, they didn’t pass the physical and technical tests, so they were dropped. That’s the simple truth.”
He emphasized that CAF’s screening process is rigorous and far from ceremonial, with officials required to undergo multiple assessments before being certified for AFCON duty.
“Once you’re invited, you must undergo physical, tactical and medical examinations,” Zubairu said. “After these tests, CAF selects only those who meet their standards. That’s how the final list is compiled.”
Nigeria’s absence stands out particularly because several West African nations—including Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Gabon, Benin, Niger and Mauritania—secured slots on the officiating team. Nigeria is therefore the only former AFCON champion from the region without representation.
Also Read: NPF Implements Strict VIP Escort Ban as IGP Issues Nationwide Arrest Directive
AFCON 2025 is scheduled to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, with all selected referees expected to arrive in Morocco by 15 December for an intensive pre-tournament training camp featuring fitness drills, technical sessions and classroom work.
