The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will on Thursday decorate 30 referees with the badge of world football-governing body, FIFA, for 2025 www.aclsports.com reports.
According to a statement from the NFF, President of the Federation , Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will perform the decoration, alongside the Chairman of NFF Referees Committee, Mrs Faith Irabor, General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi and the Head of NFF Refereeing Unit, Alhaji Sani Zubairu.
Also contained in the statement is the breakdown of the referees expected to be decorated. 11 of them are centre referees, 11 assistant referees, four futsal referees and four beach soccer referees. In addition, eight of 30 match officials are females with three of them being centre referees and the other five are assistant referees. All the futsal and beach soccer referees are male.
Samuel Pwadutakam (assistant referee) and Ndubuisi Ukah (futsal referee) are the oldest, having been FIFA referees since 2014. While the likes of Emmanuel Omada (assistant referee), John Tope Ojeleye (futsal referee) and Noah Adejoh (beach soccer referee) are new in the FIFA category.
Referees Hannah Elaigwu and Joseph Ogabor, and assistant referee Abdulmajid Usman have been internationals since 2017.
The decoration ceremony is a yearly event to confer on the match officials the authority to perform as international arbiters in that particular year.
FULL LIST OF THE 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
