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AFCON 2025 Referee Roster Raises Questions as Nigeria Misses Out Yet Again
Nigeria’s name was missing once again when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the roster of referees for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a development that has stirred fresh conversations within the country’s football circles.
CAF confirmed that no Nigerian referee, assistant referee, or VAR official will feature at the upcoming TotalEnergies AFCON Morocco 2025, despite selecting 73 seasoned officials from across the continent.
The tournament runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
According to the list, CAF picked 28 referees, 31 assistant referees, and 14 VAR specialists, all drawn from countries with a consistent record of officiating at the highest levels.
Many of those chosen have managed crucial continental fixtures in recent years, a standard CAF says reflects its drive toward “refereeing excellence, competition integrity, and the continuous enhancement of technical standards.”
As part of preparations, all selected officials are expected to arrive in Morocco on December 15 to begin an intensive training camp.
The programme, to be led by CAF’s Referees Department, will include a mix of physical tests, technical drills, and theoretical sessions designed to sharpen their performance before the competition begins.
For Nigeria, however, the omission has once again cast a spotlight on a long-standing issue. Despite being a football powerhouse with global pedigree, the country has struggled to produce referees who consistently appear on major CAF or FIFA lists.
The absence at AFCON 2025 has renewed calls from stakeholders for a serious overhaul and investment in referee development, better training pathways, and stronger officiating structures that can compete with the rest of Africa.
As anticipation builds toward kickoff in Morocco, this development serves as a reminder that Nigeria’s football excellence must extend beyond the pitch and into the technical areas where games are shaped and decided.
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