NFF Referees Committee Invites Candidates for 2026 FIFA International Listing Exercise
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), through its Referees Development Committee, has announced the commencement of preparations for the annual FIFA listing of referees and assistant referees for the 2026 calendar year.
In a statement signed by Nasiru Ibrahim, on behalf of the Head of Referees Development Unit, the NFF disclosed that the exercise will bring together all FIFA-badged referees and assistant referees (male and female), as well as international beach soccer and futsal referees, who are expected to defend their badges for renewal.
In addition to the current FIFA referees, five male referees and five male assistant referees from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have been shortlisted for assessment. The committee has also extended invitations to five female referees and five female assistant referees, further underlining the NFF’s commitment to gender inclusivity in officiating.
The listing program has been scheduled to take place at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with the following itinerary:
Arrival: 30th September, 2025
Medical Screening: 30th September, 2025
Fitness Test: 1st October, 2025
List of Invited Officials
Men Referees
1. Muhammad B. Tuta (Adamawa)
2. Madaki Abdulmalik (FCT)
3. Muhammad Zakari (Niger)
4. Chilaka Igwe (Rivers)
5. Ebineme Arewaremi (Delta)
Men Assistant Referees
1. Darlington Nwauzoebilon (Abia)
2. Al-Amin Kabiru Yusuf (Bauchi)
3. Ridwan Lawal (Oyo)
4. Ismaila Rasheed (Kwara)
5. Yusuf Abdullahi (Kano)
Female Referees
1. Oluwatosin Omotoye (Osun)
2. Rasheedat Abdulganiyu (FCT)
3. Semiat Mustapha (Oyo)
4. Dominion Kalu (Enugu)
5. Peace Ogbonnaya (Anambra)
Female Assistant Referees
1. Scholastica Ikeobi (Anambra)
2. Patience Azi (Plateau)
3. Olive Njoku (Imo)
4. Adeola Oluwole (Lagos)
5. Vivian Osemene (FCT)
The NFF emphasized that this annual exercise is in line with FIFA’s global standard, ensuring that referees listed on the international panel meet the required medical, technical, and fitness benchmarks. Those who scale through will be eligible to officiate international matches under FIFA’s supervision in 2026.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
