By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Dr. Alex Mana, a retired FIFA badge referee, has expressed deep disappointment over the absence of Nigerian officials from the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) list of match officials for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
In an exclusive interview with Jersey Number 12, Dr. Mana criticized the Nigerian referees’ council for inadequate efforts in meeting CAF’s selection criteria. He remarked:
“When you plant your crops at the right time and in the right way, you’ll be expecting a good harvest, but the reverse will be the case when you fail to do the right thing. I think we need to get our referees to do the right thing for them to get the best results.”
Dr. Mana, currently serving as an assessor for the Kaduna State Referees’ Council, emphasized the need for strategic planning and sustained development within the refereeing body. He acknowledged that reaching the pinnacle of officiating requires time and consistent effort, suggesting that replacing aging officials with well-trained younger referees through continuous development programs is essential for progress.
He also expressed concern over reports that Nigerian referees were excluded due to failing physical fitness tests, stating:
“It is very disrespectful to Nigerian referees if CAF had used physical fitness as one of the criteria for dropping them from the tournament because the country’s referees have never been found wanting in that aspect of the trade.”
According to reports, CAF’s exclusion of Nigerian referees stems from a combination of factors, including insufficient improvement in refereeing performance, inadequate hands-on experience with Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, and failure to meet international standards over the past 18 years.
The Nigerian Referees Association (NRA) President, Sanni Zubair, acknowledged that Nigerian arbiters did not meet CAF’s requirements for the tournament, noting that the country has only one elite referee who could have made the cut.
Dr. Mana’s critique underscores the urgent need for reforms within Nigeria’s refereeing system to restore its reputation and ensure representation in future international tournaments.