The Nigeria Football Federation has decorated 29 referees with FIFA badges and urged them to be upright in the discharge of their duties.
The NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, stated this on Wednesday at the 2023 FIFA badging Ceremony at the Conference Hall of the Goal Project, Abuja.
He urged international referees from the country to respect the integrity regulations expected of them.
Gusau was represented at the occasion by the NFF General Secretary, Sanusi Mohammed.
He said FIFA referees have become Nigeria’s ambassadors who should consider the image of the country when called upon to discharge their duties.
Gusau advised the referees to showcase the rare qualities that made them worthy of consideration for elite refereeing status.
“They must ensure they do their jobs according to the laid down rules and represent Nigeria well because to whom much is given much is expected.
“Also with the increase in their allowances and indemnities as well as prompt payments directly to them before their matches, it is expected that all these will act as a morale booster for them.
“The NFF has also ordered the match commissioners to ensure that all referees are placed on speakers and recorded at all times during matches,” he said.
The NFF boss added, “We also ensure that we call them before every match to remind them of the need to do what is right, bearing in mind that Nigeria is a very big country.
“We cannot afford not to have the best team representing us at continental championships.
“The era where our teams will qualify for continental competitions and get eliminated in the first round must be a thing of the past.
“So, what we want is for the referees to be fair in the discharge of their responsibilities.”
The NFF president said the Federation is happy with the performances of Nigeria both at international and domestic scenes, warranting their welfare to become an issue of concern.
He added that the referees must justify the confidence reposed in them by imbibing ethical machinations to display the high-level integrity expected of them.
President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Tade Azeez, said the badging ceremony was an annual ritual meant to decorate arbiters who are recognised by FIFA as their own referees.
Azeez urged the referees to make use of the chances accorded them to reach the peak of their International careers before retirement.
“We must be good ambassadors at all times and upright in whatever we do,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that seven of the referees were badged as FIFA referees, while another seven were decorated as FIFA assistant referees.
Four were FIFA women referees and three were FIFA women assistant referees.
Also badged were four FIFA beach soccer referees while another four were FIFA futsal referees.
Two of the arbiters are new to the topmost rank: Muhammed Yakubu and Tijjani Ahmad, who will operate as FIFA assistant referees.
Full of the list of badged referees:
FIFA Referees: Ogabor Joseph; Nurudeen Abubakr; Quadri Adebimpe; Kassim Abdulsalam; Abdullahi Abubakar; Bashir Salihu; Grema Mohammed
FIFA Assistant Referees: Samuel Pwadutakam; Usman Abdulmajeed; Efosa Igudia Celestine; Hope Igho; Tejiri Digbori; Muhammed Yakubu; Tijjani Ahmad
FIFA Beach Soccer Referees: Jelili Ogunmuyiwa; Fawole Olawale; Olayinka Olajide; Rabiu Ahmad
FIFA Futsal Referees: Bello Zuru Alhassan; Musa Dung Davou; Paul Umuago; Uhah Ndubuisi. (NAN)