Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-28 02:44:22
At the recent CAF AFCON Referees’ Open Day, Noumandiez Desire Doue, a CAF official and the Head of Refereeing and Football Technology, addressed the absence of Nigerian referees at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and other continental football tournaments. Doue emphasized that while Nigerian referees are competent, they need to make further improvements in order to be considered for selection.
The decision to exclude Nigerian referees from the biennial competition has sparked debates among football stakeholders within the country. Doue explained that CAF strives to select the best referees from the continent, not just those who are considered average. He stressed that in order to officiate at CAF competitions, referees need to be among the best in their respective regions.
Doue acknowledged that Nigeria has a pool of talented referees, but emphasized that selection for AFCON and other CAF competitions is based on the highest level of performance. He noted that Nigerian referees have shown improvement, but they still have work to do in order to be among the best. According to Doue, the selection process for referees began approximately one and a half years prior to the tournament.
The CAF official’s comments shed light on the rigorous standards and criteria that are used to select referees for prestigious tournaments like AFCON. Doue’s explanation also reflects CAF’s commitment to promoting excellence and upholding the highest standards of officiating in African football.
Moving forward, it is clear that Nigerian referees have a benchmark to strive for in order to be considered for selection at future AFCON tournaments and other CAF competitions. The message from CAF is clear: in order to officiate at the highest level of African football, referees must demonstrate exceptional skill, competence, and consistency in their performances.
