29 Nigerian referees receive officiating badges from FIFA

A total of 29 Nigerian match officials including seven women have received their badges to operate as FIFA-licensed officials for the year 2023.

The special ceremony held inside the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, saw seven match officials badged as centre referees, while another seven were decorated as assistant referees.

Among the 29, only two match officials - Muhammed Yakubu and Tijjani Ahmad - both assistant referees, were elevated to the rank of FIFA badges.

Referees: Ogabor Joseph, Nurudeen Abubakar, Quadri Adebimpe, Kassim Abdulsalam, Abdullahi Abubakar, Bashir Salihu, and Grema Mohammed.

Assistant referees: Samuel Pwadutakam, Usman Abdulmajeed, Efosa Celestine, Hope Igho, Tejiri Digbori, Muhammed Yakubu, and Tijjani Ahmad

Beach soccer referees: Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, Fawole Olawale, Olayinka Olajide, and Rabiu Ahmad

FUTSAL referees: Bello Alhassan, Musa Davou, Paul Umuago, and Ukah Ndubuisi.

Women referees: Ndidi Patience, Hannah Eliagwu, Olufunmilayo Alaba, and Yemisi Akintoye.

Women assistant referees: Mfon Akpan, Beauty Terah and Abibat Yusuf.