Elite Referees Back From England As Edibe Heads To Malabo

Nigeria’s elite referees returned from a two –week capacity enhancing programme in England on Sunday, expressing deep appreciation to the Board of Nigeria Football Federation for the exercise.

Their return coincided with the appointment, by the Confederation of African Football, of top Nigerian assistant referee Peter Edibe to officiate at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Equatorial Guinea early next year.

One of the referees, Tope Orowole, said they were very grateful to NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick and Senforce Insurannce Limited for packaging the capacity building programme, and that they have gained a lot professionally.

“We are full of appreciation to the NFF President and the Board as a whole for the sponsorship that was brokered and the general arrangement that was so flawless. We benefitted a lot in terms of capacity enhancement and this will certainly reflect in our performance in the coming season.

“Now that one of our own Peter Edibe has been appointed to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations, we believe it is the beginning of many good things to happen to Nigerian refereeing.”

Edibe’s appointment comes as NFF President Amaju Pinnick insisted that his focus remains seeing Nigerian referees officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals and other global championships.