NNL Chairman George Aluo Commends Referees, Urges Consistency In Second Stanza

Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo, has praised referees officiating in the second stanza of the campaign, describing their performances as commendable.

With the second round now in its second week and several teams securing away victories, Aluo attributed the improved competitiveness to the professional handling of matches by referees.

“I want to commend referees who are handling the second stanza of NNL matches for a job well done. Their professional handling of matches and not allowing intimidation overshadow their sense of judgment is a clear indication that the league is gradually getting it right,” Aluo stated.

“A look at the results recorded so far in the second stanza shows officiating is getting better and better.”

Aluo also highlighted the positive impact of the mid-season retreat held in Ikenne in partnership with the club owners’ body, NALCOMA.

“The Ikenne retreat was one in which we told ourselves the truth, and I’m happy the clubs are cooperating. I also want to commend the Referees Appointment Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation for the good job they are doing,” he added.

He urged referees to maintain the same level of professionalism until the end of the season, stressing that consistent and fair officiating would make the league more attractive to fans and potential sponsors.

“I want to remind the referees that their actions can make or mar a game. They should continue with the same mentality and professional handling of matches so far witnessed till the end of the league, and by so doing sustain the successes we have recorded,” he concluded.

In some of the weekend’s fixtures, promotion-chasing Akwa United F.C. fell 3–1 at home to Abeokuta Stormers F.C., while Edel F.C. secured a 1–0 away win against Gateway United F.C..

Sunshine Stars F.C. were held to a 1–1 draw at home by Beyond Limits F.C. at the Akure Township Stadium.

Inter Lagos F.C. also played out a 1–1 draw with Crown F.C. at the Onikan Stadium, while Calabar Rovers F.C. suffered a 1–0 home defeat to Solution F.C. at the UJ Esuene Stadium.

The improved officiating and competitive results suggest the NNL’s second stanza could deliver an exciting run-in as teams battle for promotion and survival.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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