Sports
FIFA MA Course: Gusau, FIFA instructors harp on hard work, integrity and fraternity
The two-week FIFA Member Associations Course for physical and technical instructors, and Young Talents came to a close in Abuja on Thursday with FIFA Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed publicly declaring his confidence in the ability of Nigeria’s budding arbiters to reach unprecedented heights in the vocation globally.
The physical and technical instructors’ course was activated between 9th – 13th June, while the Young Talents programme lasted between Sunday, 15th – Thursday, 19th June 2025.
President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), who also doubles as President of WAFU B, told the young talents to endeavour to put all they have learnt during the course into practice, as the Federation is in the process of elevating more of the young talents to take on higher responsibilities, such as handling matches of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
“I am happy that now, we have a total of 86 young talents in our refereeing pool. This deeply gladdens my heart. Last year, we had 40 people undertake this course, and this year, we have 46. Let me reveal to you that 10 of those young talents from last year have been elevated to the NPFL, and none of them was found wanting throughout the season.
“Their record of performance gives great hope to yourselves, and also shows that the NFF is right in our commitment to the young talents. However, in order to keep improving, I charge you to always find ways to fraternize, collaborate in all aspects, and bond together to jointly and severally enhance your capacities.”
Mohamed, who is from Somalia, said: “I am very satisfied with the group that we worked with over the past one week – the young talents. Their level of assimilation is very high and I see them going places in the work of refereeing. Please always have integrity at the back of your mind in whatever you do.
“We know Nigeria is everywhere, qualifying for all major tournaments and winning trophies and putting up podium performances here and there. But it will also be good to have Nigerian referees not only in the AFCON but also at the FIFA World Cup. Having worked with these young ones for the past one week, I can tell you with assurance that the future of Nigerian refereeing is in very good hands.”
President of NRA, Hon. Sani Zubairu thanked FIFA and the NFF for the success of the programme, and asserted that the growing confidence in Nigerian referees at home and abroad can be traced to the support that the referees continue to get from the NFF for their capacity-enhancing programmes, and the intentionality of the NFF President.
FIFA Fitness Instructor Boubaker Hanachi from Tunisia was also present at the closing ceremony, as well as Nigerian instructors Felicia Okwugba, Peter Edibe, Cecilia Ugbuji, Emmanuel Imiere, Stella Emoji and Promise Uwaeme.
There were also President of the NRA, Hon. Sani Zubairu; Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Madam Faith Irabor; deputy chairman Rafiu Umar Gusau; members of the committee, Kabiyesi James Odeniran, Calistus Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, Dr Bello Mohammed, Abraham Zakowi, Waziri Abba Gawe and secretary, Mohammed Ameenu; NFF’s Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire and; Chairman of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Isah Ladan Bosso.
Sports
PCN President Sunday Odebode commends NSC for improved funding of Nigeria Para-Sports
…As Nigeria Para- contingents smash 19 medals at African Grand Prix in Tunis
Joel Ajayi
The Para-Olympics Committee of Nigeria, PCN, has ascribed the recent success of Team Nigeria at the Para Grand Prix in Tunisia to the intentional support the National Sports Commission, NSC, is giving to the country’s Para-Sports.
These were the remarks of the PCN President, Sunday Odebode, as he revelled in the performance of the country’s Para-athletes in Tunisia, where Nigeria finished second overall out of 42 countries that featured at the competition.
” The NSC under the leadership of the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon Bukola Olopade, has taken the support given to people living with disabilities to another level”.
” We have never had it this good in the past where the Commission is not only supporting us financially but also assisting us in every technical way to succeed both with our international competitions and domestic ones”.
” This is why to whom much is given, much is expected and the athletes did not disappoint in Tunisia and made the country proud with their performance. It will also interest us to know that because of their outing in Tunisia, Nigeria was able to secure qualification for the World Championship in India later this year and also booked various Spots to the Commonwealth Games and the Los Angeles Olympic Games”.
Odebode also salutes the Commission for the smooth funding of its program and camping which are all geared towards podium finish in both next year’s Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics games.
” The Commission has also made our various programs very easy to execute because of the attention and funding we are currently getting from them.If you observe, the Para-lifters just concluded their trials.We discovered 10 new athletes there and they will now be going to Santiago, Chile for the World tournament”.
” And the Para- athletes will open their camp this month also.We also have Wheelchair basketball also preparing for the Commonwealth Games and our Para-Swimmers are also opening camp this month. All of these wouldn’t have been possible if not for the new funding approach of the NSC”.
Team Nigeria finished the championship with an impressive medal haul of 19, out of which 10 are Gold , 6 are silver and 3 are bronze medals.
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