The absence of Nigerian referees in the Confederation of African Football (CAF)- organized competitions has been attributed to politics in the nation’s football federation.
A renowned sports journalist, Mr. China Acheruo, stated this in an interview with our correspondent.
Mr. Acheruo dismissed the notion that Nigerian referees are overlooked due to ineptitude, citing that the officiating done by Nigerian referees has been satisfactory.
Mr. Acheruo, who explained that there is no foul play on the side of CAF in selecting referees for CAF competitions, emphasized that the continent’s football governing body has a procedure for grading, which is based on frequency of appearance.
“Whenever CAF is preparing for Champions League or Confederation Cup games, it will ask the Nigerian Referees Association, NRA, to send in the names of referees. For example, China Acheruo is sent to CAF, expecting that China Acheruo is the best or one of the best Nigerian referees.
So next time there is a Champions League game, CAF requires NRA to send referees, then NRA says China Acheruo is a Riversman, let us send an Igboman, next let us send a Yorubaman, next a middlebeltman.
If CAF sends fourteen invitations for Champions League or Confederation Cup competitions in a year, you see Nigerian referees are spread among fourteen people because they want to satisfy every ethnic group.
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In other countries when they spot a referee they think that had a prospect, they continue to push the referee’s name at the end of the year, when CAF is grading referees you will see that this man from Togo appeared eight times in champions league games, this referee from South Africa appeared seven times in champions league games, this man from Morocco appeared eleven times in champions league games but in Nigeria you have fifteen people appearing once each, this is the grading we do not have”, he emphasised.
He stated that the absence of Nigerian referees in African Football tournaments would not in any way have negative effects on the national teams.
Mr. Acheruo called on the Nigerian Football Federation to spot and promote referees with potential in CAF competitions to have representation.
“Let’s play less politics and be more performance-based, like other countries do. When you spot a young referee who has prospect, give him more games to officiate rather than spreading it around the country, give one or two, three or four people more games, it will help them rise to the ranking.”,
He noted.
CAF shortlisted a total of ninety-four officials, including centre referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees, for preparation courses in Egypt against Morocco 2025 AFCON, excluding Nigerian referees.
The last Nigerian to officiate in AFCON was Emmanuel Imiere in 2016.
