Nigerian referees missing from FIFA's list for Club World Cup

No Nigerian match official was named as FIFA unveiled a total of 26 match officials to handle football matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The list includes six referees, 12 assistant referees and eight video match officials, chosen in close cooperation with the confederations.

All selected match officials will attend a preparatory seminar starting in Rabat on 27 January before the start of the tournament in February.

Referees (6):

Ning Ma (CHN)

Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)

Ivan Barton (SLV)

Andres Matias Matonte Cabrera (URU)

Istvan Kovacs (ROU)

Anthony Taylor (ENG)

Assistant Referees (12):

Fei Zhou (CHN)

Cheng Zhang (CHN)

Mokrane Gourari (ALG)

Hassani Khalil (TUN)

David Moran (SLV)

Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)

Nicolas Taran (URU)

Martin Soppi (URU)

Vasile Marinescu (ROU)

Mihai Artene (ROU)

Gary Beswick (ENG)

Adam Nunn (ENG)

Video Match Officials, VAR (8):

Ming Fu (CHN)

Redouane Jiyed (MAR)

Fernando Guerrero (MEX)

Nicolas Gallo (COL)

Juan Soto (VEN)

Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)

Juan Martinez (ESP)

Jerome Brisard (FRA)

Defending champions Chelsea, will not be able to defend their title as they did not qualify after being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League.

Qualified teams include:

AFC: Al-Hilal, Nominated by AFC

CAF: Wydad Casablanca, the winners of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League, and Al Ahly, the runners-up of the 2021–22 CAF Champions League. They take the host Morocco's slot as Wydad Casablanca won the 2021–22 CAF Champions League.

CONCACAF: Seattle Sounders, the winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League

CONMEBOL: Flamengo, the winners of the 2022 Copa Libertadores

OFC: Auckland City, the winners of the 2022 OFC Champions League

UEFA: Real Madrid, the winners of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League

The FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022 will be played from 1 to 11 February 2023.