Aside from the FIFA referees who returned from continental outing to officiate the opening league game in Lagos; MFM vs Remo Stars, which ended 0-2 in favour of the away team on Friday evening, other international referees in Nigeria will be on parade when the rest of week one matches get underway on Sunday.
Appointment of referees by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Referees Committee show that all 11-Aside referees and their accompanying Assistants will be at different centres for the matches.
In three clashes believed to be tough pairings at Markurdi, Uyo and Ilorin, confident hands will be in the centre of the field with good flag handlers on the lines for the Lobi vs Rivers Utd, same for Akwa vs Pillars and the North Central derby; Niger vs Plateau.
While Bauchi based FIFA referee, Nurudeen Abubakar will lead another Fifa, Isa Usman as one of the Assistants to Markurdi, Benue State for Lobi vs Rivers Utd, the game of Akwa United vs Kano Pillars and Niger Tornadoes vs Plateau United have Abdulahi Abubakar, also FIFA of Niger council and Kassim Abdusalam of Zamfara respectively, as referees.
Other fixtures have matchable referees and assistants who are equal to the task.
Speaking on the new season, president of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, Otunba Tade Azeez disclosed that the association has quality referees to give teams, officials and spectators good officiating.
The president further said that based on the quantum of pre season programs given to his members which involve field and classroom works, courtesy of the NFF, the match officials can guarantee fair and firm.
Otunba Tade Azeez who craved for the understanding of other stakeholders in the domestic leagues when it comes to interpretation and application of the Laws of The Game (LoTG), used the opportunity to inform the referees that NFF/NRA still maintains zero tolerance to improper conduct on and off the field of play at match centres.
He wished the appointed referees journey mercies and best of luck.
The appointment;
1
GOMBE UTD VS SHOOTING STARS
ZAKOWI ABRAHAM FCT Assessor
MADU PATIENCE EN Referee
PETER OGWU BA Assistant Referee 1
BEAUTY TERNA FCT Assistant Referee 2
ISA ALIYU JG 4th Official
2
AKWA UTD VS KANO PILLARS
I .K OYEREFERO AB
ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR NG
USMAN ABDULMAJEED OY
MAROOF AROOMONA LG
ONWE SEBASTINE EB
3
LOBI STARS VS RIVERS UTD
SHANTALI A SK
NURUDEEN ABUBAKAR BA
ISA USAN KT
EDWIN EZE EN
OLUWABONMI O OD
4
KATSINA UTD VS RANGERS INT
AGO ABUBAKAR YB
QUADRI ADEBIMPE LG
FRIDAY EMEJE KG
MFFON FRIDAY AK
HONG ZULKFLLI AD
5
ENYIMBA INT VS ABIA WARRIORS
On hold
6
SUNSHINE STARS VS WIKKI TOURIST
IBRAHIM FAGGE KN
BASHIR SALIHU KN
COSMOS O AN
YUSUF ABIBAT RV
TANIMU MATHEW PL
7
NIGER T VS PLATEAU UTD
ABIDOYE BOLA KD
KASSIM ABDULSALAM ZM
HOPE IGHO LG
FELAGH JOHNBULL BY
SANI BABAYO GM
8
KWARA UTD VS DAKADA FC
KABIR YUSUF BA
AHMED RABIU KN
ISA SANI TR
ORIOHA CHUKWUEMEKA AB
ADEJUMO QUADRI OS
9
MFM FC VS REMO UTD
ENGR. IMIERE EMMANUEL ED
JOSEPH OGABOR CR
CELESTINE IGUDIA ED
TEJIRI DIGBORI DT
FRANKLY AGUGUESI IM
10
HEARTLAND FC VS NASARAWA UTD
CICILLA UGBUJI RV
GREMA MOHD BO
SHITTU IDRIS OG
MOSES ALAYEMOLA SK
IBODOR OVIE DT
