In a significant development, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has confirmed the imminent introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The announcement came during the NPFL retreat held in Abuja, where President Gusau outlined the federation’s plans for the integration of VAR in Nigerian football.

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Addressing the attendees at the retreat, President Gusau expressed the NFF’s commitment to enhancing the officiating standards in the NPFL through the adoption of VAR.

He stated, “We will introduce VAR in the NPFL,” and provided details on the timeline for the implementation.

President Gusau assured stakeholders that the first set of referees earmarked for VAR training would be sent for the program in January.

He emphasized the NFF’s efforts to increase the number of referees participating in the training, to send a minimum of 10 officials for the VAR program.

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To facilitate comprehensive learning, the referees selected for training will spend 2-3 weeks abroad, benefiting from the support of Moroccan authorities who are ready to assist in the process.

President Gusau affirmed the federation’s commitment to ensuring that referees are adequately prepared for the introduction of VAR in Nigerian football.

Anticipating a positive impact on officiating standards, President Gusau declared, “I want to assure you that soon, we are going to start using VAR. Before my tenure ends in 2026, we would start using VAR in Nigeria.”

The move to introduce Video Assistant Referee reflects a progressive step by the NFF to align Nigerian football with global officiating standards and enhance the overall quality of football in the NPFL.

As plans are set in motion, football enthusiasts eagerly await the implementation of VAR, anticipating improved decision-making and fair play in the league.