Football in Nigeria is facing a crisis as a result of the recent snubbing of Nigerian match officials for the AFCON 2023 duties.
The country’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has called for an urgent meeting with the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) club owners and referees to address this issue.
He wants to personally engage with this group of stakeholders before the start of the new elite league season, to communicate officially with them and ensure that all parties are in a position to know what is expected of them and how to go about the discharge of their responsibilities, for the good of the game and the international image of the nation.
Senator Enoh’s concern is that the Nigerian football league is not being officiated at the level it should be, and this is having a negative impact on the results, general ranking of the league and the kind of image the country has.
As such, he is calling on all stakeholders to work together to get things right this time, as he believes that the country cannot afford to keep going in circles.
He is particularly pleased that there has been a 30% increment in the indemnities of referees but believes that other measures must be put in place to create an enabling environment for officiating to be at the desired level.
The minister expressed his disappointment with the development from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during a meeting with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), the Nigerian Referees Association, and the board of the NPFL.
It is clear that referees play an important part in football, and their performance has a significant impact on the game’s outcome, the general ranking of the league, and the country’s image.
Therefore, it is essential to engage with referees and club owners to ensure that everyone knows what is expected of them and how to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Senator Enoh is calling for urgent measures to address the issue and ensure that the upcoming season is officiated at the desired level.
