• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

AFCON 2023 Snub: Officiating Will Be Treated As An Emergency, Says Sports Minister

by Affa Acho
2 years ago
in Sport
afcon 2023
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has stated that the snubbing of Nigerian match officials for AFCON 2023 duties by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) represents an embarrassment that must be treated with every sense of emergency.

Advertisement

In a meeting held on Friday with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Nigerian Referees Association (NRA), and the board of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), the minister stated that for a nation as big as Nigeria and its rich football history, the development is not befitting and it must not be allowed to lie fallow.

In his remarks, Enoh said “With CAF releasing the names and nationalities of 85 match officials for training towards AFCON 2023, it is embarrassing that we did not have a single Nigerian on the list. As sports minister, I see this development as an emergency that we need to respond to, as quickly as possible. It gets even worse that two years ago, we only had one Nigerian official, who was an assistant referee, and two years prior, we had no center referee.”

“We keep getting confronted by this embarrassing situation and we have allowed it to reoccur, by doing nothing on the responsibilities within our volition and the responsibilities outside our volition. Therefore, it is important to interrogate this matter, because it is a real blow to the progress of our sports,” he added.

The Minister added that sports means a lot to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as millions of Nigerians. He noted that the President has shown purpose in all areas, including the international image and representation of Nigeria. It was this purpose-driven mindset that led the President to resolve the differences between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Enoh explained.

RELATED

Liverpool Stars Honour Diogo Jota, André Silva At Funeral In Portugal

Liverpool Stars Honour Diogo Jota, André Silva At Funeral In Portugal

4 hours ago
Chelsea Complete £48.5m Signing Of Gittens From Dortmund

Chelsea Complete £48.5m Signing Of Gittens From Dortmund

5 hours ago

As the ministry sought for a solution to the matter, the minister opened the room for discussions with different stakeholder associations present at the meeting. The Referees’ Association was led by its chairman, Alhaji Sani Zubairu, the board of the NPFL was led by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, while the NFF was led by its deputy secretary general, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme.

The meeting attendance included ex Presidential Special Adviser on Sports, Daniel Amokachi, Chairman Lobi Stars FC, and ex international, Dominic Iorfa, Chairman Sokoto State Football Association, Mohammed Nasir Saidu.

Deliberations will continue towards finding a lasting solution to the issue, with actionable points for execution.

 


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

BREAKING NEWS: Nigerians can now earn US Dollars from the comfort of their homes with Ultra-Premium domains, acquire them for as low as $1700 and profit as much as $25,000. Click here to learn how you can earn US Dollars consistently.


SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Reviving Public Information For Democracy

Next Post

The Best FIFA Award: Mikel, Akide Named On Panel Of Football Experts

Affa Acho

Affa Acho

Senior Sports Reporter

You May Like

Liverpool Stars Honour Diogo Jota, André Silva At Funeral In Portugal
Football

Liverpool Stars Honour Diogo Jota, André Silva At Funeral In Portugal

2025/07/05
Chelsea Complete £48.5m Signing Of Gittens From Dortmund
Football

Chelsea Complete £48.5m Signing Of Gittens From Dortmund

2025/07/05
Burnley Sign Walker From Man City In £5m Deal
Football

Burnley Sign Walker From Man City In £5m Deal

2025/07/05
Nwudoh Heads Media Team As FCT FA Unveils Standing Committees
Sport

FCT FA League Division One Super 6 Fixtures Unveiled

2025/07/05
NFF, Super Eagles Mourn Legendary Goalkeeper Peter Rufai
Sport

Rufai’s Death, Great Loss To Nigerian Football – Shaibu

2025/07/05
Club World Cup: PSG, Bayern Face Off In Heavyweight Clash
Sport

Club World Cup: PSG, Bayern Face Off In Heavyweight Clash

2025/07/05
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Liverpool Stars Honour Diogo Jota, André Silva At Funeral In Portugal

Chelsea Complete £48.5m Signing Of Gittens From Dortmund

Forget 2027, Presidency Tells Coalition’s ADC

More Than 50% Of Medicines In Circulation Are Fake — Pharmacists

Edo Senator Intervenes In Army-Oghede Community Land Dispute

Oyo SEMA Issues Flood Alert In  3 LGAs, Warns Residents

Federal Gov’t Surmounting Inherited Security challenges — NSA

Burnley Sign Walker From Man City In £5m Deal

BBNaija Season 9 Reunion Ends With Drama, Apologies, Closure

Lagos Street Photo Walks To Spotlight Youth Entertainment, Empowerment

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.