16 referees appointed for 2025 NNL Super Eight Championship in Asaba

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Development Committee has appointed 16 match officials to officiate the 2025 Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Eight Championship, scheduled to take place in Asaba.

The officials, drawn from various states across Nigeria, were selected to ensure fairness and uphold officiating standards throughout the tournament.

The NNL Super Eight brings together the top four teams from each of the league’s Northern and Southern Conferences, with promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at stake.

The qualified teams from the Northern zone are Doma United (Gombe), Wikki Tourists (Bauchi), Barau FC (Kano), and Yobe Desert Stars (Yobe). Representing the Southern zone are Warri Wolves (Delta), Crown FC (Oyo), Kun Khalifat FC (Imo), and Osun United (Osun).

Among the appointed referees are five Premier League officials: Solomon Aweng (Plateau), Bashir Adamu (Kaduna), Abubakar Zubairu (Katsina), Anthony Eze (FCT), and Faro Abdulrahman (Lagos).

Other NNL referees and assistants include Stanley Chibuiko (Enugu), Henry Osuomon (Edo), Kalu Ezichi (Abia), Shittu Toheeb (Ogun), Igwe Emmanuel (Rivers), Eze Chinonso (Anambra), and Ciroma Bukar (Borno).

The assistant referees from the Premier League include Mohammed Ibrahim and Aminu Mammaga (Zamfara), Zachariah Nde (Akwa Ibom), and Dahiru Muazu (Adamawa).

The referees will be supervised by retired FIFA referee Dr. Alex Sule Mana, who serves as the technical instructor, while Bola Sekitiri will oversee physical fitness. NFF Referees Committee members Faith Irabor and Alhaji Rabiu Umar Gusau will also be on ground to monitor officiating performance.

The championship promises high-stakes competition, with clubs vying for a spot in Nigeria’s top flight.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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