The Nationwide League One has announced the immediate removal of referee Akinyemi Olaniran from officiating matches in the division following complaints over his performances.
In a statement released by the league body, the decision was taken after a review of several petitions and complaints concerning Olaniran’s handling of matches at the Abeokuta Centre.
The league specifically cited concerns over his officiating in the fixtures involving Yewa FC and Juvenile FC, as well as an earlier encounter between Best Talents FC and Yewa FC.
As part of the measures announced, the NLO has ordered a replay of the match between Yewa FC and Juvenile FC, a decision aimed at ensuring fairness in the competition.
According to the league organisers, the actions were taken to protect the integrity and credibility of the championship while maintaining confidence in the officiating process.
The NLO reaffirmed its commitment to upholding high refereeing standards throughout the season and stressed that all complaints relating to match officials would continue to be thoroughly reviewed in the interest of fair play.
The decision highlights the league’s determination to strengthen accountability and ensure that officiating standards remain consistent across all centres as the competition progresses.
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.
