CAF has once again left Nigerian referees off the list for the AFCON 2025 training camp in Cairo. The decision stretches a 19-year absence that began in 2006. Here are the five major reasons behind Nigeria’s continued exclusion from Africa’s biggest football stage.
1. Inadequate training and a lack of experts
Nigerian referees have fallen behind continental standards. Most have limited experience with Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems, now mandatory for top-tier officials.
CAF insists that referees must undergo advanced VAR certification before selection. Yet Nigeria’s training infrastructure has not kept pace with technological demands.
According to some reports, most local officials rarely officiate matches where VAR is applied, leaving them underprepared for continental duties.
2. Political interference in selections
Politics remains a recurring plague in Nigerian football administration. Reports say selections and promotions depend less on merit and more on connections.
Capable referees often lose opportunities due to favoritism and internal power struggles within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
This stifles fair competition and deters younger referees from pursuing top-level officiating careers.
3. Corruption and loss of credibility
Persistent corruption has eroded trust in Nigeria’s officiating system. Allegations of bribery in match assessments and appointments have lingered for years.
Reports suggest that some officials pay bribes to secure matches or favorable ratings. Such practices undermine development programs and CAF’s confidence in Nigeria’s system.
4. Neglect and poor referee welfare
Referees often face delayed allowances, poor working conditions, and little institutional support.
The NFF’s minimal investment in professional growth leaves officials undertrained and demoralized. Many depend on outdated equipment, inconsistent mentoring, and irregular match opportunities.
This neglect discourages excellence and widens the gulf between Nigerian referees and their counterparts from North and Southern Africa.
5. Structural decay in Nigerian football governance
Nigeria’s referee crisis reflects a deeper malaise within its football ecosystem. Poor infrastructure, underfunded youth programs, and weak accountability dominate the sport’s administration.
Without transparent governance and international collaborations, the drought will persist.
A system in decline
The last Nigerian referee to officiate at AFCON was Emmanuel Imiere in 2006 during the Zambia vs. Guinea clash. Since then, no compatriot has followed.
CAF’s latest decision, coming as AFCON 2025 preparations begin in Morocco on November 8, has renewed calls for an overhaul within the NFF.
Until Nigeria invests in modern training, transparency, and credible governance, its referees will remain spectators, watching Africa’s football elite from the sidelines.
