Members of the Nigeria Referees Associatian (NRA) are upbeat about good officiating as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) enters Matchday 24.
From what the President of the association, Otunba Tade Azeez expressed, the officials on duty are turbo-charged to discharge their duties without fear or favour.
The NRA President disclosed that the referees on parade are equal to the task, noting that all match officials are aware of the expectations the association expects from them.
On behalf of the NRA, Otunba Tade Azeez while praying for journey mercies, wishes them good luck.
A very efficient Ridwan Ayeni, and son of retired FIFA referee from Lagos, (Saeed Ayeni), will be with his whistle, disciplinary cards, time piece and other refereeing items to control proceedings in Aba for the oriental derby; Enyimba vs Heartland. The lanky Ayeni won’t be alone in Aba for the big task as Katsina based Tijani Ahmed and woman FIFA Referee, Mfom Friday Akpan of Akwa Ibom are the Assistant Referees.
In the second all South East clash scheduled for Nnewi, Anambra State, Ifeanyi Uba vs Rangers, it will be another reliable whistle man from Kwara, Iranloye Shina, joined by Assistants; Zakari Adamu and Jonathan Dauda of Jigawa and Borno respectively.
In the Katsina vs Warri Wolves tie, at the centre is a senior staff of the Correctional Service, Tivkor Thomas of the Benue as Ekiti’s Adeyinka Bakare and Akinsanya Segun Oyo are on the lines to be assessed by retired FIFA referee and Yobe State Sports Director, Dr Ago Abubakar.
While Sunday Okayi who was formerly in charge of the Refereeing Unit of the NFF will know about the performances of the refereeing team in Port Hacourt for the Rivers Utd vs Wikki Tourists, led by another reliable hand among the whistle men, Habibu Ghali of Kano Council, a retired FIFA referee and the Chief Physical Fitness Instructor of NFF/NRA Fitness Test programs, Engr (Sir ) Emmanuel Edekin Imiere ( KSM), will monitor how FIFA referee of Bauchi Council, Nurudeen Abubakar and others will perform another cracker in Uyo; Akwa Utd vs Kwara United.
Another interesting pairing in the Week 24 matches; Plateau United vs Kano Pillars will see a Pastor from the Imo State Referees Council, Evangelist Ndubuisi Uka go beyond football evangelism to perfect officiating with the assistance of Femi Adeniyi of Ekiti and Woman Fifa Assistant Referee, Abibatu Yusuf while the National Training Officer, NTO, Olori Jumoke Serah Adebisi-Odeniran is the assessor.
The appointment by the Nigeria Football Federation, Referees Committee
231NASARAWA UTD VS ADAMAWA UTDJUMARE TANIMU KD Assessor AUSTIN NEJI CR Referee ONWE SEBASTINE EB Assistant Referee 1AKINSULIRE KAYODE OD Assistant Referee 2ISA ALIYU JG 4th Official DAHIRU YAKASAI KN Match Commisioner LAFIA30/05/21
232PLATEAU UTD VS KANO PILLARSADEBISI S OYNDUBISI UKAH IMADENIYI FEMI EKABIBAT YUSUF RVAHMED ABDULLAHI BABABAGONI GREMA BOJOS30/05/21
233ENYIMBA INT VS HEARTLAND FCMIKE OMUAMUNOR DTRIDWAN AYENI LGAHMED TIJJANIN M KTMFON FRIDAY AKABDULLAHI NDATSU NGKOLA SANGOWUMI OYABA30/05/21
234RIVERS UTD VS WIKKI TOURISTSUNDAY OKAYI FCTHABIBU GHALI KNEZE EDWIN ENSHITTU IDRIS OGMAGASHI DONALD BNDAN A USMAN KGPORTHACOURT31/05/21LIVE
235AKWA UTD VS KWARA UTDENGER EMIERE EDNURA ABUBAKAR BASHEHU SAIDU KNOKOYE COSMAS ANQUADRI ADEJUMO OSEDITH NWAKIRE ABUYO30/05/21
236JIGAWA G STARS VS ABIA WARRIORSMAJIJADI M GMOLANIYI OLADAPO ODCHIKODIRI ANYA RVIGAGWU HARUNA KGFRIDAY FRANCIS BAASP FRIDAY OGWU BNKADUNA31/05/21
237FC IFEANYIUBAH VS RANGERS INTANDY B LIKATE NGSHINA IRANLOYE KWZAKARI ADAMU JGJONATHAN DAUDA BOOSUMAH ELVIS AJIBOYE EDBRIGHT OMOREGIE EDNNEWI
30/05/21238MFM FC VS DAKKADA FCAMINU MOHD KNLAMIDO AHMED YBZAKARIYA LAWAL ZMMUSTAPHA ALHASSAN FCTFRANK AGUGUESI IMONYIOKO AUGUSTINE ABLAGOS30/05/21
239LOBI STARS VS SUNSHINE STARSAHMED YAKUB KNNURA ABDULLAHI ZMSUFIYAN BAZZA ADOTA JEOL DTCOURT SAMSON ABIBRAHIM ABDUL KNMAKURDI
30/05/21240KATSINA UTD VS WARRI WOLVESABUBAKAR AGO YBTIKVOR THOMAS BNADEYINKA BAKARE EKAKINSANYA SEGUN OYNWOSU BRIGHT ABHABU NIMLAN PLKATSINA