FIFA clears 30 Nigerian referees for International duty in 2026

FIFA has officially released its International Referees List for the 2026 football calendar, and Nigeria has recorded a significant showing, with 30 match officials cleared to officiate international competitions across various categories.

The annual list, which is jointly recognised by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), comprises referees and assistant referees approved to handle matches in men’s and women’s football, as well as futsal and beach soccer competitions.

Nigeria’s strong representation highlights the country’s continued relevance in global refereeing programmes and its active participation in CAF and FIFA development pathways.

A number of Nigerian officials retained their places from previous editions of the list, underscoring consistency and experience. Among those reappointed are assistant referee Samuel Pwadutakam, centre referee Basheer Salisu, assistant referee Digbori Tejiri, futsal referees Ukah Ndubuisi Odigomma and Musa Dung Davou, as well as beach soccer referee Fawole Olawale Adeolu.

The 2026 list also features several other Nigerian officials across different officiating roles. These include referees Hannah Elaigwu, Ogabor Joseph Odey and Abdullahi Abubakar, alongside assistant referees Usman Abdulmajeed Olaide, Abibatu Iyadunni Stockl, Terah Kabeda Beauty, Ahmad Mustapha Tijjani, Muhammad Muhamud Yakubu, Agbons Faith, Omada Emmanuel and Lawal Ridwan Temitope.

In futsal officiating, Nigeria will be represented by Musa Dung Davou, Bello Zuru Alhassan and Ojeleye John Tope, while the country’s beach soccer officials for 2026 are Fawole Olawale Adeolu, Olajide Olayinka, Rabiu Ahmad and Adejoh Noah.

Other referees completing Nigeria’s contingent on the international list include Nurudeen Abubakar, Mustapha Grema Mohammed, Olufunmilayo Abigael Alaba, Akintoye Yemisi, Abdulsalam Kasimu Abiola, Egba Patrick John and Omotoye Tomilayo Oluwatosin, bringing the total number of Nigerian officials approved for international duty in 2026 to 30.

With their inclusion on the FIFA list, these officials are eligible to officiate international friendlies, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, CAF club competitions, and other FIFA- and CAF-sanctioned tournaments throughout the year.

Despite the encouraging numbers, Nigeria continues to face challenges when it comes to officiating representation at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals. Notably, the country has not produced a centre referee at the AFCON tournament for almost two decades.

The last Nigerian referee to take charge of an AFCON match was Emmanuel Imiere, who officiated the Group B encounter between Zambia and Guinea at the 2006 AFCON in Egypt.

Nigeria’s most recent appearance in AFCON officiating came in 2015, when Peter Edibi served as an assistant referee during the tournament hosted by Equatorial Guinea. Since then, Nigerian officials have consistently missed out on CAF’s final selection for AFCON refereeing duties.

Explaining the situation in the past, Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) president Sanni Zubair noted that being named on FIFA’s international list does not automatically guarantee selection for CAF tournaments.

According to him, CAF places heavy emphasis on strict physical fitness tests, theoretical assessments, and practical competence in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system key areas where Nigerian officials must continue to improve to regain regular AFCON representation.

As Nigeria celebrates its strong presence on the 2026 FIFA International Referees List, attention will now shift to whether the country can translate these approvals into greater visibility and recognition at Africa’s biggest football stages in the years ahead.