By Dayo Awoniyi
In a testament to Nigeria’s growing influence in African football, four top Nigerian match officials have been selected to oversee a crucial qualification match at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 next week.
The quartet, all FIFA badge referees, will take charge of the Ethiopia vs. Uganda clash at the Abebe Bekila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 26, 2025.
Leading the team is seasoned FIFA referee Ndidi Amaka Patience Madu, who boasts an impressive resume, having officiated at the African Women Cup of Nations, Tokyo Olympics, and CAF Women Champions League.
Madu will be assisted by Abibatu Iyaduni Yusuf and Mfom Friday Akpan as Assistant Referees 1 and 2, respectively, while Hannah Eliagwu will serve as the fourth official.
The Nigerian refereeing team’s performance will be under scrutiny, with Deide Camil Zealand of South Africa evaluating their work. Christine Mukanboka from Rwanda will act as the Match Commissioner.
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.
