Sports
FIFA’s Approval of 30 Nigerian Officials for Int’l Duties Signals Promising Prospects
Joel Ajayi
In a groundbreaking move that signals a new era for Nigerian football, FIFA has placed 30 match officials from Nigeria on its list for the 2024 football calendar. This announcement not only signifies a major achievement for Nigerian referees, but it also serves as a testament to the country’s commitment to excellence in sports officiating.
In response to the news, Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh expressed his delight, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Nigerian sports officials.
Senator Enoh is at the forefront of a strong commitment to enhance Nigeria’s sports profile. His visionary leadership and passion has been instrumental in building the nation’s standing in the world of football.
Nigeria, known for its passionate football culture, has long been a breeding ground for talented players, but the recognition of its match officials on the global stage is a significant achievement, especially after recent snubs in continental and global showpieces. The placement of 30 Nigerian referees and assistants on FIFA’s list speaks volumes about the country’s dedication to producing high-caliber football officials.
In the aftermath of CAF’s snub of Nigeria in its list of 85 match officials for training for the forthcoming AFCON, Minister of Sports Development, Senator Enoh immediately called for an emergency meeting with the Nigerian Football Federation on the 15th of September for drastic measures to be taken. In the meeting the Minister stated that he was treating officiating in Nigeria as an emergency and everything possible will be done to resuscitate it.
Before the start of the league season,, he also met with the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), NFF Referees Committee and voiced the need to reposition the country’s ratings through better officiating. He sounded a strong warning that any referee found wanting will be immediately shown the exit door.
On October 6th, Enoh held a strategic meeting with the executive members of the NFF and NRA to discuss referee education and development, the need for recommitment and avenues to improve ratings. This was a follow-up to the earlier engagement with key stakeholders. Again, he reiterated what must be done urgently and deliberately, in conjunction with all stakeholders, to rebuild the reputation of match officials. The next in the series was another parley on October 11th, on the state of Nigerian football. The domestic league, national teams, officiating, grassroots, etc.
While it is still early days, there is a need to modestly celebrate the small wins, as the engines continue to work, to ensure Nigerian officials gain a stronger reputation on the global football map. The league has recorded some impressive results that calls for saluting the performance of officials. Kano Pillars scored 5 away from home, Plateau United scoring 3 in Kaduna, modest teams Like Doma and Remo doing impressively well without getting blighted by the traditional big guns, amongst others.
One of the key mantras Senator Enoh is championing, is the comprehensive training and development programs for referees across the country. Recognizing the crucial role referees play in the integrity of the game, he has consistently advocated for investments in their education and skill enhancement.
As a new chapter opens for Nigerian sports, he highlighted the government’s support for sports development initiatives, ensuring that Nigeria remains a force to be reckoned with in the global sports arena. In a week where Nigerian stars (Osimhen, Oshoala, Nnadozie, the Super Falcons) shone on the continent, the country is on the cusp of greatness.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
