The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has completed arrangements for the annual FIFA Member Association (MA) courses, set to take place from June 8 to 19 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The dual-program initiative will train 80 participants, split evenly between technical and physical fitness instructors and young refereeing talents, aiming to align Nigerian officiating with global standards.
Kicking off on Monday, June 8, the technical and physical fitness instructors’ course will involve 40 participants. The program is designed to update Nigeria’s refereeing instructors with the latest trends, techniques, and best practices in the field.
FIFA has deployed Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed and Fitness Instructor Boubaker Hanachi to lead the sessions, supported by Nigerian instructors Felicia Okwugba, Peter Edibe, Emmanuel Imiere, Stella Emoji, and IT/Video Instructor Promise Uwaeme.
The curriculum includes classroom sessions on tactical fouls, new law changes, handball, offside, penalty area incidents, and the use of FIFA’s updated red card protocols. Each day will begin with practical training involving referees and players, ensuring hands-on application of the concepts.
The young talents program, running from June 15 to 19, will focus on nurturing emerging referees. Participants will engage in sessions covering modern refereeing techniques, positioning, fitness test analysis, and managing penalty area incidents. The program aims to equip young officials with the skills needed to excel in high-pressure matches.
The technical and physical fitness course will conclude on June 13, paving the way for the young talents program. Both initiatives underscore the NFF’s commitment to enhancing the quality of refereeing in Nigeria.
Participants, including notable names like Uwaeme Promise, Bukola Olisa, and Gbemisola Solihat Yusuf, represent a diverse group of officials poised to benefit from FIFA’s expertise.
This training is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s officiating standards, fostering a new generation of referees capable of competing on the global stage.