FIFA Unveils Nigeria’s 2026 International Referees List, 30 Officials Earn Global Approval

FIFA has officially released Nigeria’s International Referees List for 2026, with 30 Nigerian match officials approved to officiate in international competitions across multiple refereeing categories.

The annual list, published by the world football governing body, comprises referees and assistant referees who have satisfied FIFA’s strict assessment criteria and are eligible for CAF and FIFA assignments in the 2026 football calendar.

Nigeria’s representation cuts across men’s and women’s football, futsal, and beach soccer, underlining the country’s growing depth and steady progress in football officiating at the global level.

The 2026 list blends experience with fresh blood. Among the retained and experienced officials are Pwadutakam Samuel (Assistant Referee), Basheer Salisu (Referee), Digbori Tejiri (Assistant Referee), as well as Ukah Ndubuisi and Musa Dung Davou in futsal officiating.

Female refereeing continues to gain prominence, with Elaigwe Hannah Enekole, Olufunmilayo Abigael Alaba, Akintoye Yemisi, and Omotoye Tomilayo Oluwatosin making the list, reflecting Nigeria’s increasing female presence on the international refereeing stage.

Nigeria also recorded strong representation in futsal and beach soccer, with officials such as Fawole Olawale Adeolu, Olajide Olayinka, Rabiu Ahmad, Bello Zuru Alhassan, Ojeleye John Tope, and Adejoh Noah receiving FIFA recognition.

The list features officials inducted across different periods, from long-serving referees first listed as far back as 2014 to new entrants inducted in 2026, highlighting sustained development within the Nigeria Football Federation’s refereeing structure.

With their inclusion, the officials are now eligible to officiate international friendlies, qualifiers, continental championships, and major FIFA and CAF tournaments throughout 2026, further strengthening Nigeria’s footprint and reputation in global football officiating.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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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