By Esther Ososanya
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has once again overlooked Nigerian referees for a major continental tournament. This time, the snub is for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which will feature only home-based players.
CAF released a list of 70 match officials: 26 referees, 26 assistant referees, and 18 video match officials.
These individuals come from 30 member associations across the continent. However, Nigeria is not among them.
Ongoing Pattern of Exclusion
This isn’t the first time CAF has excluded Nigerian officials from its top tournaments. Despite Nigeria’s rich football heritage, CAF continues to ignore its referees for elite competitions. This pattern raises concerns about Nigeria’s standing in African officiating.
East Africa to Host Tournament
CHAN 2025 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The tournament runs from August 2 to 30, 2025. It is reserved for players competing in their national domestic leagues.
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Why This Matters
Nigerian football remains a continental force, yet the absence of local officials at CHAN points to deeper issues. Questions persist about Nigeria’s referee development, training standards, and CAF’s selection criteria.
Unless deliberate steps are taken to develop and promote refereeing talent, Nigeria risks falling further behind in officiating at the continental and global levels.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.