Why CAF Left Out Nigerian Referees From AFCON 2025 Preparatory List

Fresh insight has emerged on why the Confederation of African Football (CAF) once again overlooked Nigerian referees for the preparatory course ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

CAF on Friday released a list of 94 officials, instructors, and assessors for the training exercise, but not one Nigerian made the cut.

The development has stirred concern within the local refereeing community, as this is not the first time Nigeria has been left out.

Reacting to the exclusion, the president of the Nigeria Referees Association, Sanni Zubair, admitted that the officials from the country did not meet CAF’s selection standards, which focused on physical fitness, theoretical assessment, and experience with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

“It is because we are not qualified to be there,” Zubair told Punch. “Being a FIFA ref doesn’t mean you are qualified. The only elite referee that we have, when they went for the tests, he didn’t pass the test.”

Zubair explained that the NRA is currently working with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to develop more elite-level referees who can meet CAF’s requirements for top continental tournaments.

“Yes, we have referees in the country, but it is like being in a university where we have different levels,” he said. “Every year we have people moving from one level to another level. Every year, we have courses and exams, and hopefully, they will be invited to the elite tests soon. We have so many FIFA referees; when they are invited to the elite course and pass it, we will be back on track. That is what we are waiting for.”

Earlier in February, the NFF decorated 30 FIFA-certified referees, made up of 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four futsal referees, and four beach soccer referees. Only three of them, Emmanuel Omada (assistant referee), John Tope Ojeleye (futsal referee), and Noah Adejoh (beach soccer referee), were new entrants into the FIFA ranks. The rest have carried the badge for several years, with some dating back as far as 2014.

However, one of the FIFA-badged referees, who preferred not to be named, insisted that Nigerian referees are still competent enough for major CAF duties.

“Some countries have two or three; it’s not like they are better,” he said according to Punch. “Aside from AFCON, our referees are still getting called for some other CAF assignments. The NFF are trying to provide courses for us by inviting CAF and FIFA instructors. What I think they have to do more is play the politics up there as well.”.