Faith Irabor Appointed To CAF Referees Committee
By Sedara Philip
Nigeria’s distinguished referee administrator and retired FIFA referee, Faith Uwugiaren Irabor, has been appointed as a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Referees Committee) for 2025.
Irabor, who currently serves as Chairperson of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Development Committee, will represent the West African Football Union Zone B (WAFU-B) on the continental panel.
Her appointment is a major recognition of Nigeria’s growing influence in African football governance and referee development.
The CAF Referees Committee, chaired by Olivier Safari Kabene from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Victor Miguel De Freitas Gomes from South Africa as vice-president, brings together some of the continent’s most respected officiating experts to oversee referee training, assessment, and appointments across CAF competitions.
The 14-member committee, drawn from Africa’s six football zones, highlights CAF’s renewed commitment to excellence, gender inclusion, and diversity in football officiating.
Faith Irabor is celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished figures in football officiating.
A retired FIFA referee, she was among the early generation of Nigerian women to officiate in international competitions, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field.
Following her retirement, Irabor transitioned into refereeing administration, where she has become a respected assessor and mentor.
As Chairperson of the NFF Referees Development Committee, she has championed referee education, mentorship programs, and reforms aimed at improving the standard, integrity, and professionalism of officiating in Nigeria.
Her inclusion in the CAF Referees Committee underscores her long-standing dedication to the growth of refereeing in Africa and represents another proud moment for Nigerian football.
CAF Referees Committee 2025 — Full List
President: Olivier Safari Kabene — Democratic Republic of Congo
Vice-President: Victor Miguel De Freitas Gomes — South Africa
Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA)
Ali Tomusangue — Uganda
Lidya Tafessa — Ethiopia
Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA)
Inacio Candido — Angola
Janny Sikazwe — Zambia
West African Football Union Zone A (WAFU A)
Fatou Gaye — Senegal
Lemghaifry Bouchaab — Mauritania
West African Football Union Zone B (WAFU B)
Sinko Zeli — Côte d’Ivoire
Faith Uwugiaren Irabor — Nigeria
Union of North African Football (UNAF)
Hadqa Yahya — Morocco
Djamel Haimoudi — Algeria
Central African Football Federations’ Union (UNIFFAC)
René Daniel Louzaya — Republic of Congo
Menkouande Evariste — Cameroon
CAF described the committee as “a truly diverse panel bringing together some of Africa’s finest refereeing minds to shape the future of officiating on the continent.”
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
