Once again, Nigerian referees have been overlooked by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This is not the first time Nigerian referees have faced such a snub from CAF and FIFA, as they have struggled to gain recognition in recent years.
Unfortunately, this trend is set to continue at the upcoming tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
It is worth noting that CAF has selected officials from a total of 19 different nationalities for the event, with Egypt and Morocco having three representatives each.
Algeria, Gabon, and Mauritania are also represented by two officials each.
The diversity of nationalities represented by the officials highlights the importance CAF places on inclusivity and diversity.
The 2023 AFCON finals are scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, with the Super Eagles drawn in Group A alongside hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
Unfortunately, there will be no Nigerian referees in sight, which is a significant disappointment for Nigerian football fans.
It is worth noting that in the 2019 edition of the tournament, which saw 26 referees and 31 assistants, no Nigerian referee was selected.
However, Abel Baba made his cut as an assistant referee in the 2017 edition, while Peter Edibe featured on the list at the 2015 and 2013 editions.
In the last six editions of the tournament, only three Nigerian referees have been selected, which speaks volumes about how little Nigerian referees count when it comes to continental duties.
This is a trend that needs to be addressed if African football is to progress and become more inclusive.
