The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has issued FIFA badges to 29 referees and advised them to perform their duties honorably.
The NFF awarded FIFA assistant referee badges to seven officials and referee badges to seven officials.
Four officials were awarded FIFA women’s referee badges, while three officials were awarded FIFA women’s assistant referee badges.
In addition, four FIFA futsal referees and four FIFA beach soccer referees received their badges.
Muhammed Yakubu and Tijjani Ahmad, two newly promoted arbitrators, received their FIFA assistant referee badges.
On Wednesday, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau addressed the officials at the 2023 FIFA Badging Ceremony held at the Conference Hall of the Goal Project in Abuja, asking the country’s international referees to uphold their moral commitments.
The NFF’s general secretary, Sanusi Mohammed, who represented Gusau at the event, stated that FIFA referees had taken on the role of ambassadors for Nigeria and should conduct themselves in a manner that respects the country’s good name.
He said:
They must ensure they do their jobs according to the laid down rules and represent Nigeria well because to whom much is given much is expected.
Also with the increase in their allowances and indemnities as well as prompt payments directly to them before their matches, it is expected that all these will act as a morale booster for them.
The NFF has also ordered the match commissioners to ensure that all referees are placed on speakers and recorded at all times during matches.
Below is the list of the 29 officials that got FIFA Badges:
FIFA Referees: Ogabor Joseph; Nurudeen Abubakr; Quadri Adebimpe; Kassim Abdulsalam; Abdullahi Abubakar; Bashir Salihu; Grema Mohammed
FIFA Assistant Referees: Samuel Pwadutakam; Usman Abdulmajeed; Efosa Igudia Celestine; Hope Igho; Tejiri Digbori; Muhammed Yakubu; Tijjani Ahmad
FIFA Beach Soccer Referees: Jelili Ogunmuyiwa; Fawole Olawale; Olayinka Olajide; Rabiu Ahmad
FIFA Futsal Referees: Bello Zuru Alhassan; Musa Dung Davou; Paul Umuago; Uhah Ndubuisi
FIFA Women Referees: Ndidi Patience; Hannah Eliagwu; Olufunmilayo Alaba; Yemisi Akintoye
FIFA Women Assistant Referees: Mfon Friday Akpan; Beauty Kabenda Terah; Abibat Yusuf.