Former Nigerian referee, Dele Atoun, has spoken candidly about the challenges impeding the participation of Nigerian referees in international competitions.
He pointed out the shortage of top-level referees and the absence of modern training equipment as significant barriers.
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Atoun emphasized the importance of having referees in the Elite A category, the top tier of refereeing in the country, to be considered for prestigious tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Currently, Nigeria has only one assistant referee in Elite A, limiting the pool of candidates available for selection.
*”First of all you have to be in Elite A. It is among the pool of referees in Elite A that they will consider people that will go for a competition like AFCON and unfortunately in Nigeria today, we only have one assistant referee in Elite A unfortunately he was at the last AFCON but not invited for this and I guess because we also don’t have referee; that is the one they call centre referee in Elite A.
The former referee highlighted the absence of centre referees in Elite A, with only two officials, Joseph Ogabor and Kazeem, currently in Elite B.
To enhance the chances of Nigerian referees participating in future AFCON events, Atoun stressed the urgency of elevating more referees to Elite A status.
Additionally, Atoun addressed the need for modern training equipment to enhance the skills and capabilities of Nigerian referees.
Upgrading infrastructure and providing referees with the latest tools and technology are essential steps to keep pace with international standards.
*”The two that we have: Joseph Ogabor and Kazeem, are in Elite B for now so we are hoping that before the next AFCON either or both of them will have made it to Elite A and maybe they will be considered for the next one so it is unfortunate but that is the reality.”*
Atoun expressed hope that by the next AFCON, efforts would be made to increase the number of top-level referees in Nigeria, facilitating their inclusion in prestigious tournaments.
The call for investment in referee development and infrastructure upgrades resonates as a vital step toward elevating Nigeria’s representation in the global football officiating community.
