NFF Referee Committee boss Faith Irabor provides clarification on NPFL officiatings

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Head of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Committee, Faith Irabor has served an update on the progress of referees during the ongoing 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

During the badges decoration of 29 Nigerian referees on Wednesday, the Vice President of the Nigeria Referees Association gave clarification on the activities of match oficials so far in the NPFL matches this season.

“Nobody is above mistake. Mistakes of the head and mistakes of the mind are what we see. The NFF have read the riot act that they are going to provide the enabling environment,” Irabor told Brila FM.

“They have followed their words. All we need to do is to reciprocate because no one wants to go to a match venue and be taken home dead. Now clubs don’t harass referees. They allow them to do their jobs. That’s why we are setting the pace now.”

At the event, the NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi charged the referees that will officiate in FIFA matches this year to take to heart the fine ethos of fairness, firmness, and efficiency in their various assignments.

Also at the occasion were the President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Otunba Tade Azeez; Vice Chairman of the Referees Committee, Rabiu Gusau; Members of the Referees Committee, Kabiyesi James Odeniran, C. C. Chukwujekwu, Bello Abubakar, Abraham Zakowi and Furo Waziri and; Secretary of the Referees Committee, Sani Zubairu.

A total of seven referees were badged as FIFA referees while another seven will be decorated as FIFA assistant referees, with four as FIFA women referees and three as FIFA women assistant referees.

Also four are FIFA beach soccer referees while another four are FIFA futsal referees, while only two of the arbiters are new to the topmost rank – Muhammed Yakubu and Tijjani Ahmad, who will operate as FIFA assistant referees.

FIFA Referees: Ogabor Joseph; Nurudeen Abubakr; Quadri Adebimpe; Kassim Abdulsalam; Abdullahi Abubakar; Bashir Salihu; Grema Mohammed; FIFA Assistant Referees: Samuel Pwadutakam; Usman Abdulmajeed; Efosa Igudia Celestine; Hope Igho; Tejiri Digbori; Muhammed Yakubu; Tijjani Ahmad.

FIFA Beach Soccer Referees: Jelili Ogunmuyiwa; Fawole Olawale; Olayinka Olajide; Rabiu Ahmad; FIFA Futsal Referees: Bello Zuru Alhassan; Musa Dung Davou; Paul Umuago; Ukah Ndubuisi; FIFA Women Referees: Ndidi Patience; Hannah Eliagwu; Olufunmilayo Alaba; Yemisi Akintoye; FIFA Women Assistant Referees: Mfon Friday Akpan; Beauty Kabenda Terah; Abibat Yusuf.