National Teams
FIFA appoints Portuguese referees and officials for Nigeria clash with Saudi Arabia
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
FIFA has appointed Portuguese referees and Video Assistant Referees for this month’s international friendly match between Nigeria’s senior national team and Saudi Arabia.
Portuguese official Luis Godinho will serve as the centre referee for the friendly match between three-time African champions, Nigeria and Asian giants Saudi Arabia, coming up at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão next week Friday.
The centre referee will be assisted by fellow countrymen Bruno Jesus (assistant referee 1), Tiago Costa (assistant referee 2), and Miguel Noguera (fourth official) at the match kicking off by 5 pm Portugal time (same time as in Nigeria).
Helder Carvalho has also been appointed to be in charge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room, to be assisted by Bruno Vieira.
The game will be the second encounter between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia at this level.
The Super Eagles and the Green Falcons battled to a scoreless draw in a pre-2010 FIFA World Cup friendly game at the Alpenstadion in Wattens, Austria on 25th May 2010.
Jose Peseiro’s side has another friendly encounter against the African side, Mozambique at the same venue on Monday, 16th October 2023.
