Nigerian referees were conspicuously absent from the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) professional referees list, which was released on Tuesday. The list comprises 24 referees—19 men and 5 women—selected for a professional development course scheduled from November 27 to December 4. The omission raises questions about Nigeria’s representation in CAF’s officiating programs under the leadership of Patrice Motsepe.
Earlier this year, CAF announced plans to place selected referees on professional payrolls and provide specialized training to elevate refereeing standards across the continent. Despite Nigeria’s rich footballing history, none of its referees made the final cut.
The selected referees represent diverse nations, including Libya, Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Ghana. Notable names on the list include Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria), Daniel Laryea (Ghana), and Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)—one of the five female referees selected.
This development underscores the pressing need for Nigerian referees to elevate their profiles on the continental stage. The omission is a wake-up call for the Nigeria Referees Association and related bodies to enhance the training, exposure, and performance of Nigerian officials to regain their place in CAF’s elite group.
