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NFF to Acquire VAR Equipment Truck to Boost Refereeing Standards in WAFU-B
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has announced plans to procure a dedicated truck for transporting Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment across West Africa’s WAFU-B zone.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day CAF Women’s Football Administrators Workshop in Abuja, Gusau—who also serves as President of WAFU-B—said the initiative aims to tackle one of the region’s key challenges: limited access to VAR training for referees.
According to him, the equipment, currently based in Abidjan, will be transported to member countries to facilitate hands-on training.
“One major challenge confronting our referees is the lack of adequate VAR training. In collaboration with the NFF, we will endeavour to acquire a truck to move this equipment across WAFU-B nations,” Gusau stated.
He emphasized that the move would benefit both male and female referees, improving officiating standards throughout the region.
Gusau also urged leaders of women’s football across the seven WAFU-B countries to intensify grassroots development, stressing that nurturing young talent is essential for long-term success.
“We must put in place drastic measures to harness the talent of young women players from the grassroots,” he said. “That’s the only pathway to sustainable growth from youth to senior levels.”
Also speaking at the event, NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi encouraged participants to fully engage with the workshop and apply the knowledge gained to transform women’s football in their respective countries.
Executive Director of WAFU-B, Philippe Tchere, praised the initiative, describing it as a major boost for refereeing development in West Africa.
“The offer of a truck to transport VAR equipment is the biggest news of the week for me,” he said.
The workshop features facilitators including former Nigeria international Precious Dede, alongside CAF instructors Jules McGeever and Thuba Sibanda.
Other dignitaries present included CAF’s Head of Women’s Football Meskerem Goshime and President of the WAFU-B Women’s Football Commission Amina Amani.
The initiative signals a growing commitment to improving refereeing quality and strengthening women’s football development across West Africa.
