By Eby Emenike

When the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the list of match officials for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a worrying detail jumped out: Nigeria was nowhere to be found. Not a referee, not an assistant referee, not even a video match official.

For a country that proudly calls itself the “giant of Africa” in football, the omission is more than symbolic. It is alarming.

Nigeria’s last appearance in AFCON officiating dates back to 2006, when Emmanuel Imiere handled a group-stage encounter between Guinea and Zambia in Alexandria. Nineteen years later, a new generation of African referees is emerging—and Nigeria has no seat at the table.

Continental Comparison

The contrast is stark:

• Egypt – 6 officials
• Algeria – 5
• Morocco – 5
• Nigeria – 0

Even smaller football nations such as Benin, Eswatini and São Tomé & Príncipe are represented.

Why Has Nigeria Fallen Behind?

Football insiders point to three interconnected factors.

Training Gaps:
CAF now requires stringent certification, including VAR competence. Nigerian referees have lagged behind these evolving standards, and few have transitioned into the modern refereeing ecosystem.

Governance Failures:
Refereeing development has not featured prominently in Nigeria’s football administration agenda. Without structured national training pathways, Nigerian officials are left out of CAF’s refereeing pipeline.

Systemic Neglect:
Experts argue this is not a case of individuals failing to rise—it is a system that has stopped producing elite match officials.

A Continental Shift—Women Step Forward

While Nigeria sits out, CAF is expanding the horizon of African officiating. The inclusion of female referees and assistants reflects a progressive shift. Names like Uganda’s Shamirah Nabadda, Cameroon’s Carine Fomo, and Zambia’s Diana Chikotesha underline the arrival of women at the heart of the African game.

This is inclusion in real time—and Nigeria is missing from that story too.

What Must Change

Nigeria’s absence at AFCON 2025 should be a call to action. Investment in refereeing development, modernization of training programmes, and a coherent strategy for talent identification are urgently required.

Football is more than players, coaches and goals. It is officiating, governance, and the structures that hold the entire ecosystem together.

Nigeria cannot continue to boast of football greatness if it remains empty-handed each time Africa’s biggest football event calls on the continent’s best officials. The question now is whether Nigerian football authorities will respond—with policy, investment, and vision—or watch quietly from the sidelines.

As Africa takes steps forward, the danger is that Nigeria may be taking steps back.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has paid glowing tribute to Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong following his announcement on Thursday, 4 December 2025, that he is retiring immediately from international football.

In a statement released after what it described as a “dispassionate evaluation” of his decade-long service, the NFF lauded Troost-Ekong’s leadership, commitment, and patriotism throughout his 10-year spell with the national team.

Troost-Ekong, who made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2015, captained the Super Eagles with what the Federation called “gusto, zeal and patriotic fervour,” earning widespread respect for his humility, discipline, and ambition both before and after he assumed the captaincy.

“William was a dedicated, selfless and humble leader of the Super Eagles for so many years,” the statement read. “He bestrode the pitch with passion, pride, purpose and a commendable sense of duty. Even before becoming captain, he wore the green-and-white with joy, zest and focus.”

The NFF highlighted his standout performances at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments—Egypt 2019, Cameroon 2021 and Côte d’Ivoire 2023—describing them as benchmarks for future generations. His silver and bronze medals were part of a larger, distinguished journey that included representing Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he played a key role in the team’s campaign.

Troost-Ekong, who accumulated 83 caps for Nigeria across five major competitions, is leaving the international stage “a fulfilled man,” the NFF said, noting that his decade of service is one he can look back on “with pride and a sense of accomplishment.”

His decisive three goals during Nigeria’s run to the AFCON 2023 Final in Côte d’Ivoire earned him the prestigious Man of the Competition award, becoming one of the few defenders in the tournament’s history to claim the honour.

As he steps away from international duties, the NFF expressed gratitude for his contributions and pledged support for his future ambitions in football.

“The Nigeria Football Federation wishes William Troost-Ekong the very best in his future endeavours,” the statement concluded. “We will do whatever we can, within our capacity, to help him achieve his goals and objectives within the round-leather game.”

 Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The Trophy of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 made a vibrant stop in Paris on Wednesday, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd to the iconic Palais de Tokyo as the Diaspora Tour continued its European circuit.

The Paris event, marked by music, culture, and football flair, brought together former players, journalists, artists, and fans who gathered to celebrate what organisers described as “the energy of the continent, the passion of its communities, and the strong bond uniting supporters from here and elsewhere.”

The highlight of the evening was the official unveiling of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Trophy, welcomed with loud applause from hundreds of attendees who turned out to show solidarity and excitement for Africa’s premier football tournament.

As Morocco intensifies preparations for the 2025 edition, the Paris stop represents a key moment in building momentum among African communities in Europe.

The Diaspora Tour, which began in London, is designed to strengthen ties between the tournament and the millions of Africans living abroad, while amplifying anticipation ahead of kick-off.

Speaking to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), Omar Khyari, Advisor to the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), said the tour seeks to “bring together Africans living in Europe around the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.”

He noted the “tremendous enthusiasm observed last week in London and this week in Paris,” adding that “in line with the Enlightened Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is preparing what will be the best edition in the history of AFCON,” with the FRMF fully mobilised under its president, Fouzi Lekjaa, to deliver a world-class tournament.

French journalist Hervé Penot, senior reporter for L’Équipe, echoed this optimism, praising Morocco’s readiness and the quality of its infrastructure. He said AFCON 2025 “could be one of the best ever organised on the continent,” highlighting Morocco’s rising stature as a football powerhouse in Africa.

The Paris showcase forms part of a broader continental effort to unite fans, generate excitement, and set the stage for what many observers believe could be one of the most memorable editions in AFCON history.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H