The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is set to commence its annual FIFA Member Association courses for technical instructors and young refereeing talents from June 8 to June 19 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. This year, a total of 80 participants are expected to take part in the classroom sessions and field drills.
The programme for technical and physical fitness instructors will kick off on Monday, June 9, with 40 instructors participating. The initiative aims to update Nigeria’s technical and physical fitness instructors on current trends and best practices in refereeing, ensuring they are well-versed with global standards.
FIFA has dispatched Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed and Fitness Instructor Boubaker Hanachi to oversee the courses, working alongside Nigerian instructors including Felicia Okwugba, Peter Edibe, Emmanuel Imiere, and Stella Emoji. IT/Video Instructor Promise Uwaeme will also be part of the team.
Participants in the technical and physical fitness programme will engage in topics covering course objectives, challenges, tactical fouls, and the preparation of practical training on the first day. In addition, discussions on new law changes, tactical approaches, handball regulations, offside rulings, penalty area incidents, and the new FIFA red card system will be included. Each day will begin with practical training sessions involving referees and players.
For the young talents programme, scheduled to follow the instructors’ course from June 15 to June 19, participants will learn about challenges and tactical fouls, penalty area incidents, modern refereeing techniques, positioning and reading, as well as fitness test analysis.
The exercise for technical and physical fitness instructors will conclude on Friday, June 13, paving the way for the young talents programme.
Participants for the Technical and Physical Fitness Course include:
Promise Uwaeme, Abel Baba, Alex Mana, Austin Eyeroli, Alfred Saiki, Robert Aundugh, Patrick Ishaya, Ben Neji, Innocent Wokoma, Sylvanus Umoh, Ibrahim Nasiru, Aliyu Jingi, Isaac Bolatito, Bukola Olisa, Kelechi Mejuobi, Victor Ijeremen, Ikechukwu Okpechi, Gambo Adamu, Mike Uhumnwang, Babatunde Irukera, Philip Alkali, Nicholas Achikasim, Friday Awugo, Mohammed Bala, Margaret Aku, Budah Ibrahim, Paris Hanson, Grace Obaze, Sesan Odukoya, Ahmad Rufai, Paul Apeh, Mahmoud Surakar, Paul Umuago, Fatimo Oyeniyi, Bethel Nwanesi, Innocent Egwutora, Folusho Ajayi, Joshua Dogo, Abdulrashid Oyakhire, and Michael Oladeni.
Participants for the Young Talents Programme include:
Mansur Mahmud Ngaski, Gbemisola Solihat Yusuf, Bashir Moukhtar, Dominion Chisom Kalu, Ibrahim Adams Boyi, Emmanuel Ajewole, Kwanga Eric Terhile, Oritsetsolayemi Asakpi, Esther Joseph, Patience Abi Azi, Paulina Ehinola Aanu, Omowunmi Adeola Oluwole, Michael Oluwajuwonlo Adepoju, Suleyman Sani, Semiat Opeyemi Mustapha, Stephanie Tse Henbafan, Uzoma Osakpamwan Alohan, Isah Nagogo, Ruth Ogunrombi, Andrew Iorkon, Jamilu Hamisu, Rachael Onyekwere, Emmanuel Unimike Adie, Umar Musa Anukpo, Yakubu Aliyu, Ismail Ishaq, Idowu Stephen Omolade, Al-Ameen Kabiru Yusuf, Amalachukwu Scholastica Ikeobi, Dahiru Mustapha, Usman Baffa Usman, Abubakar Ilela Uzaifa, Ebenezer Folaesho, Muhammad Bin Lawal, Aminu Kabiru, Habibu Salihu, Idris Ibrahim Buba, Aminu Muhammed Yakubu, Aziz Ahmed, and Capehas Hamen.
