The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the list of referees and officials selected for the preparatory course ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for December.
However, conspicuously absent from the list are Nigerian referees — a development that has raised fresh concerns about the state of officiating in the country.
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According to an insider source within CAF, the exclusion stems primarily from a lack of adequate VAR training and hands-on experience, which has become a key criterion for officiating at major CAF and FIFA competitions.
“One of the core requirements is a minimum of 25 hours of VAR training and practice. None of our referees currently meet that standard except one or two — and even they lack sufficient practical exposure,” the source revealed.
Beyond technical shortfalls, Nigeria’s referees also suffer from image and perception challenges, largely fueled by domestic criticism.
The source cited a Nigerian referee who had initially been shortlisted for the CHAN tournament was dropped after a petition was filed against him on ethical grounds — another setback for Nigeria’s credibility in continental officiating.
“We can’t keep condemning our referees publicly and expect others to see them differently.”
” When we brand them as corrupt or incompetent, it damages their international reputation,” the source added.
Observers say the West African Football Union (WAFU), especially among Anglophone countries, must invest more in referee education and VAR integration.
While Francophone nations such as Côte d’Ivoire have established structured VAR programs and competitions, Anglophone countries, including Nigeria, continue to lag behind.
In contrast, Southern African (COSAFA) nations have developed strong VAR training systems and frequently collaborate with WAFU members to build refereeing capacity.
Despite Nigeria’s rich football heritage, no referee from the country has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations since 2019.
This worrying decline that calls for urgent intervention from stakeholders, including the Nigeria Football Federation and the media.
CAF named 101 referees across different countries on the continent for preparatory course, scheduled for November 8–13 in Cairo, Egypt.
The preparatory course will feature physical fitness tests, technical assessments, and sessions on the latest refereeing technologies, including VAR applications.
Only referees who successfully complete the program will be cleared to officiate at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco
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