THE President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has pledged to train 10 Nigerian referees in the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology as part of renewed and strategic efforts to strengthen match officiating and enhance professionalism within the country’s football ecosystem.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Gusau made this commitment on Wednesday during a formal meeting with the new executive team of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) at the NFF secretariat in Abuja, in what observers described as a significant step toward modernising officiating standards in Nigeria.
The visiting delegation, led by acting president Kelechi Mejuobi, paid a courtesy visit to the federation following the recent demise of the association’s former president, Sani Zubair, whose passing has left a notable vacuum in the leadership of refereeing administration in the country.
During the meeting, Gusau used the opportunity to emphasise the urgent need to sanitise the refereeing profession, calling for sweeping reforms, particularly in areas such as age eligibility, computer literacy, and minimum academic qualifications for aspiring referees.
He stressed that the future of refereeing in Nigeria depends largely on early talent identification and structured development, noting that recruiting individuals at a younger age would allow for proper grooming through the ranks to elite levels.
“I am one of those who believe that no serious recruitment drive for referees should accept people above a certain age. Perhaps, we should even look at recruiting from the level of junior secondary schools. We will be wasting our time and the system’s time by recruiting persons above the age of 14. When will the referee rise to Grade 1 and then to FIFA level?” Gusau stated in a release issued by the NFF Head of Communications, Ademola Olajire.
The NFF president further underscored the growing importance of digital competence in modern officiating, pointing out that referees are now required to file detailed reports that often span several pages, making computer literacy an indispensable skill.
“There is also the imperative of computer literacy. These days, referees must file reports running into several pages. How will any computer illiterate cope? The NFF is ready to provide support, but this is something the executive council must take to the referees’ congress and pass as a resolution,” he added.
Reinforcing its commitment, the federation reiterated its determination to ensure that at least 10 Nigerian referees are fully trained in VAR operations before the end of the year, a move expected to align the country with global best practices in football officiating.
Gusau also took a moment to commiserate with the visiting officials over the loss of their former president, Sani Zubair, describing him as a dedicated servant of Nigerian football who contributed immensely to the growth of refereeing in the country.
In his remarks, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, charged the newly inaugurated executive to take bold and decisive actions to tackle the persistent challenge of poor officiating that has continued to undermine the credibility of the domestic league.
“I believe we have referees who can hold their own at the highest level, even perform at the FIFA World Cup, but they are easily influenced to the detriment of their own careers,” Sanusi said, highlighting concerns over integrity and external pressures.
He noted that while the country possesses capable referees with the potential to excel globally, issues of discipline and undue influence have continued to hinder their progress and reputation.
Responding, Mejuobi assured the federation that the new leadership of the Nigeria Referees Association would intensify efforts to reform the system, restore confidence, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism.
He emphasised that under his watch, acts of indiscipline and unethical behaviour would not be tolerated, warning that strict sanctions would be imposed on erring officials to safeguard the integrity of the game.
The meeting, which combined solemn reflection with forward-looking reforms, signaled a renewed commitment by stakeholders to reposition refereeing in Nigeria through training, discipline, and the adoption of modern technology such as VAR.