In a surprising turn of events, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to exclude Nigerian referees from the officiating team for the highly anticipated 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Ivory Coast. Despite the Super Eagles securing their spot at the tournament, no Nigerian referees will be present on the field.
With 24 nations vying for Africa’s most coveted football prize in January 2023, the absence of Nigerian officials is raising eyebrows. The Super Eagles are determined to claim their fourth African crown, but they will have to do so without their compatriots overseeing the matches.
On Tuesday, CAF unveiled the list of referees who will undergo preparatory courses for AFCON next year, and to the disappointment of Nigerian football enthusiasts, not a single Nigerian umpire made the cut. The list includes referees from various African nations, such as Algeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mali, totaling 32 referees and 33 assistant referees selected for the tournament.
Even the deployment of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) for the preparation course failed to include any Nigerian representatives. This marks a significant drought, as the last time a Nigerian referee officiated a Nations Cup game was in 2006, resulting in 18 consecutive years without Nigerian involvement in such a capacity.
The decision has left fans and pundits speculating about the reasons behind CAF’s exclusion of Nigerian referees from the 2023 AFCON officiating team.
