World football –governing body, FIFA has appointed referees from North Africa to officiate the Super Eagles’ last two games of the group phase of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifying series.
Tunisian official Youssef Essrayri, 42, will be the referee for the Day 5 encounter between the Super Eagles and the Lone Star of Liberia taking place at the Grand Stade de Tangier in Morocco on Saturday, 13th November. The match is a ‘home’ game for the Lone Star – reverse fixture of the Day 1 clash at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on 3rd September, which the Super Eagles won 2-0 thanks to a Kelechi Iheanacho brace.
Essrayri will be assisted by compatriots Aymen Ismail (assistant referee 1), Youssef Jami (assistant referee 2), and Mehrez Melki (fourth official) at the match that will begin at 5 pm Morocco time (6 pm Nigeria time).
Former FIFA referee Seli Zinko from Cote d’Ivoire will be the referee assessor while Sullay Kamara from Sierra Leone will be match commissioner. Dr Bilal Mohamed Rida, Moroccan, will serve as a medical officer.
For the Day 6 clash against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Tuesday, 16th November, FIFA has listed Algerian official Mustapha Ghorbal as referee. He will be assisted by compatriots Mokrane Gourari (assistant referee 1), Abbes Akram Zerhouni (assistant referee 2) and Lahlou Benbraham (fourth official).
Ivorian Nomandiez Doue, another former FIFA referee, will serve as referee assessor with Sierra Leonean Prince Kai Saquee as match commissioner. The medical officer will be Dr Abdulrahim Onimisi Ozi Salami of Nigeria.
The Nigeria/Cape Verde clash will kick off at 5pm.
Falconets to resume camping for Congo fixture
Coach Christopher Danjuma has invited 31 players to the camp of Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup third round fixture against Congo, with the first leg taking place in Brazzaville on 5th December. Nigeria will host the return leg at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Thursday, 16th December.
On the list are four goalkeepers, nine defenders, 10 midfielders, and eight forwards.
The Falconets blitzed past their counterparts from the Central African Republic 11-0 on aggregate in the second round, while the Congolese saw off Egypt’s U20 girls 3-1 on aggregate. The girls from the Central African Republic progressed to the second round following the withdrawal of Equatorial Guinea.
All 31 players have been asked to report at the Serob Hotel in the Wuye district of Abuja on Sunday, 7th November with their training kits, international e-passports, and certificates of birth. However, four players of Rivers Angels FC of Port Harcourt that is taking part in the maiden edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League holding in Egypt 5th – 19th November, have been excused to report in camp after their engagement in North Africa. Two overseas–based players are also expected in camp towards the end of the month.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS
Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma (Nasarawa Amazons); Nelly Eke (Sunshine Queens); Iyems Etim (Abia Angels); Monle Omini (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders: Jumoke Anani (Edo Queens); Paulina Ali (Naija Ratels); Motunrayo Ezekiel (Lakeside Ratels); Omowunmi Oshobukola (Edo Queens); Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Confluence Queens); Oluwabunmi Oladeji (Naija Ratels); Chidinma Ogbuchi (Robo Queens); Blessing Sunday (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels)
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Basirat Amoo (Nasarawa Amazons); Esther Onyenezide (Robo Queens); Rafiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Yina Adoo (Nasarawa Queens); Celine Attah (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Okpe (Rivers Angels); Chinyere Kalu (Bayelsa Queens); Mary Aderemi (Osun Babes); Amarachi Odoma (Nasarawa Amazons)
Forwards: Juliet Adebowale (Briton Hovers, England); Joy Jerry (Bayelsa Queens); Mercy Idoko (Nasarawa Amazons); Adaobi Udoka (Edo Queens); Flourish Sebastine (Bayelsa Queens); Joy Omewa (B94 FC, Denmark); Taiwo Lawal (Robo Queens); Precious Vincent (Bayelsa Queens)
