The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in collaboration with FIFA, has successfully hosted the 2025 edition of the FIFA Member Associations (MA) Referee Course in Abuja, renewing hope for the future of refereeing in Nigeria.
The intensive two-week program ran from June 9 to 19 and included technical and physical training for instructors, along with a Young Talents program that was specialized.
This initiative gathered top FIFA experts alongside Nigeria’s most promising referees and educators.
FIFA Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed, who oversaw the technical training for the young referees, expressed deep appreciation for the potential and quality of the Nigerian participants.
“I am very pleased with the group we trained over the past week – the young talents,” Ahmed commented. “Their ability to absorb information is outstanding, and I foresee them achieving great things in the field of refereeing.
Nigeria is well known for qualifying for significant tournaments and winning trophies, but it would also be extraordinary to see Nigerian referees officiating not just at AFCON but also at the FIFA World Cup. After working with these young individuals, I can confidently say that Nigerian refereeing’s future is in very skilled hands.”
NFF President and WAFU B President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), commended the ongoing progress of the country’s referee development program, highlighting the federation’s dedication to cultivating young talent.
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“I am thrilled that we now have a total of 86 young talents in our refereeing pool. This brings me immense joy,” he noted. “Last year, we had 40 people participate in this course, while this year we had 46.
I must share that 10 of those young talents from the previous year have been promoted to the NPFL, and all of them performed well throughout the season.”
He also urged the participants to put their knowledge into practice and to build unity and collaboration among themselves for continued growth.
“Your performance generates great hope and reinforces the NFF’s commitment to development. However, to advance further, you must socialize, cooperate, and work as a team to enhance and strengthen both your individual and collective skills.”
