NFF earns praise as FIFA MA Course ends, Young Talents Programme kicks off in Abuja

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has received widespread commendation following the successful conclusion of the FIFA Member Associations (MA) Technical and Physical Instructors Course, held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The week-long programme drew participation from 40 elite technical and physical instructors, blending classroom theory with hands-on training sessions to enhance the standard of officiating across the country.

President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Hon. Sani Zubairu, lauded the NFF for its continued support of referee development, stating that the federation’s backing was crucial to the success of the initiative.

“We thank God for the success of this first segment of the FIFA MA Course, and we also thank the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for always having our backs. Without their support, we would not be able to achieve our objectives,” Zubairu said.

He also urged the participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge to improve refereeing standards within their respective zones.

Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Madam Faith Irabor, echoed similar sentiments, applauding NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON) for his commitment to raising the bar in Nigerian refereeing.

“The NFF President has been gracious to us. This programme is an integral part of his pledge to change the face of refereeing in Nigeria, and you will all agree with me that he has lived up to his words, as our referees performed creditably in the just concluded NPFL season,” she stated.

The course was conducted under the guidance of FIFA Fitness Instructor Boubaker Hanachi (Tunisia) and FIFA Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed (Somalia), supported by top Nigerian instructors including Felicia Okwugba, Peter Edibe, Cecilia Ogwuche, Emmanuel Imiere, and Stella Emoji.

With the first segment concluded, attention now shifts to the Young Talents Programme, the second phase of the FIFA MA Course, which kicks off on Sunday. The programme will engage 40 young participants, focusing on identifying and developing potential referees from an early age to strengthen the future of officiating in Nigeria.

The NFF’s commitment to technical development and referee education continues to attract praise, reinforcing its broader agenda to enhance the professionalism and global standing of Nigerian football.

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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