Nigeria’s refereeing leadership has clarified why no Nigerian officials are on the AFCON 2025 roster. They reject claims that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) intentionally excluded the nation. This upcoming tournament will be held in Morocco.

Many Nigerian football fans expressed surprise. They questioned why a major footballing nation like Nigeria would have no representatives.

Sani Zubairu, President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), has now addressed these concerns.

Zubairu, himself a retired FIFA referee, called the “snub” suggestions unfair. He stated they do not accurately reflect the situation.

“It is wrong to say Nigerian officials were neglected or ignored,” Zubairu explained. “We were invited.”

He detailed the selection process. Two Nigerian officials, both holding FIFA badges, participated early on. They attended CAF’s preparatory programs in Egypt. However, their journey ended during the critical assessment phase.

Zubairu confirmed: “A centre referee and an assistant referee were invited. They attended a course in Egypt. Unfortunately, our referees failed the physical and technical tests. They were then dropped.”

He added, “It’s very unfortunate. We were given the opportunity, but we couldn’t make it. That is the true position.”

CAF’s Rigorous Selection Process

Zubairu emphasized that CAF’s selection is rigorous. He described it as a tough screening system. It evaluates officials across various criteria.

“An invitation means a screening exercise,” he clarified. “Officials must pass physical, tactical, and medical tests. Only those who succeed are selected for the tournament. This is precisely what occurred.”

The final referee list includes officials from several countries. These are Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Gabon, Benin, Niger, and Mauritania. This leaves Nigeria, a prominent West African nation and former AFCON champion, without a representative.

AFCON 2025 Tournament Details

The AFCON 2025 tournament is scheduled for December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

All selected officials will arrive in Morocco by December 15. They will undergo intensive preparations. This includes fitness training, technical drills, and theoretical sessions before the tournament begins.