Referees’ progress delights NFF

A year after a Nigerian referee officiated the final match of the African Beach Soccer Championship in Seychelles, another Nigerian, Paul Umuago, penultimate Sunday refereed the final match of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Jelili Ogunmuyiwa was in the centre as Senegal and Madagascar battled in the final of the 2015 African Beach Soccer Championship in Mahe.
Penultimate Sunday, Umuago took charge of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations final match between Morocco and Egypt, which Morocco won 3-2.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Media and Publicity Committee Chairman, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, hailed Umuago’s feat.
He recalled that Umuago was one of those who benefitted from a capacity-enhancing programme undertaken by NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, while he was chairman of the Delta State Football Association (DSFA).
“The appointment of Umuago to referee the final match of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations is further confirmation that Nigerian referees are now being taken serious by international football bodies,” Yahaya-Kwande said.
“We have had a good number of our referees taking charge of national teams and clubs’ matches on the continent over the past year.
“Umuago also benefitted from the capacity-enhancing programme of the NFF in the United Kingdom in December 2014. Feats like those of Ogunmuyiwa and Umuago will inspire the NFF to do even more for our referees.”
Yahaya-Kwande noted that world football governing body, FIFA, impressed by the efforts of the NFF towards improving the ability and capacity of Nigerian referees, has approved a FIFA Member Associations Elite Course for Nigeria, to take place from May 16 to 20.