Sports

Elite Referees Course Opens In Abuja

Published

13 years ago

October 5, 2012

The 2012 FIFA MA Course for elite referees, referee
assessors and physical fitness instructors was officially declared open in
Abuja on Wednesday by Nigeria Football Federation, NFF President, Alhaji Aminu
Maigari.

A total of 30 elite referees, among them Peter Edibe (the
only Nigerian referee involved in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying race), 36
referee assessors and 20 physical fitness instructors are taking part in the
one-week programme, which maiden edition took place last year.

World football-governing body, FIFA has sent three leading
referee instructors to oversee the programme. They are retired FIFA referees
Sidi Bekaye Magassa (Mali), Felix Tangawarima (Zimbabwe) and Madembe Mbacke
(Senegal).

In his address declaring open the course, at the FIFA
Technical Centre, NFF President Aminu Maigari, who was represented by Member of
NFF Executive Committee and Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji
Muazu Suleyman, thanked FIFA for continuous support of all programmes geared
towards the development of the Nigerian referee.

“Let me start by expressing heartfelt appreciation to the
world football-governing body, FIFA for the keen interest it has continued to
show, unpretentiously, about the development of Nigeria referees and their
profiles internationally.

“It is this very special interest that informed the move by
the world body to not only sanction the maiden edition of this Course, last
year, but also to send three of its best hands in referees instruction business
to fly down to Nigeria and impart uncommon knowledge to our leading men of the
whistle. This same interest has manifested again with the FIFA’s decision to
send to Nigeria again three of the very best in the business, who has seen it
all in the vocation of refereeing and have so much to teach our own people.”

Maigari also applauded the efforts of the Nigeria Referees
Association and the NFF Referees Committee, pledging that the NFF will continue
to support its activities.

“Let me also give assurance that the Nigeria Football
Federation will continue to support maximally all programmes, efforts and moves
to improve the Nigerian referee, based on our belief that the Nigerian referee
is indeed capable of doing much better and having a better profile than he/she
currently does in world football.”

Supporting Messrs Magassa, Tangawarima and Mbacke are
Nigeria’s respected retired FIFA referees Linus Mba, Emmanuel Dada Obafemi and
Edikin Imiere.

Sports

Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification

Published

5 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that Nigeria have the players and abilities to compete against any country in the world.

Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.

The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.

We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”

The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.

“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.

“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.

Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.

It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.

Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.

Sports

ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION

Published

5 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.

He stated that in spite the fact that sports journalists are doing greatly in the country but hardly find any sports journalist that specializes on a particular sport reporting and become an authority, as it obtainable in advance countries.

Mr. Ogolo , who was the former Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State Chapter, said this after he received the Veteran Sports Journalist Award, during the SWAN @60 Diamond jubilee award night, in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, sports journalists have done tremendously well in sports development through effective and efficient reportage.

“SWAN has done greatly to develop sports in Nigeria, so they should be given its rightful place.

“Members should continue to do what they are doing, Nigerians are sports loving people when you give them facts and accurate reporting they will be happy, besides, sports writers have a big role to play in advancement of sports in Nigeria”, Mr. Ogolo said.

The former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The TIDE Newspapers, used the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the National Executive Council (NEC) of SWAN for the award.

He explained that the award is one of the most important and special awards he has received, hence it came from his primary constituency as a journalist.

” I am not just happy but overwhelmed. This award will spur me to contribute more in development of sports and I we equally support SWAN Rivers State Chapter in my little way” he stated.

By: Tonye Orabere

Sports

DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN

Published

5 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.

He stated that the sports writing fraternity is where he cannot forget as a sports journalist that starts from the grassroots.

Mr. Nyong said this while presiding over South South SWAN zonal meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries, including some elders in the zone, on Friday, in Abuja.

He explained what led to his suspension and sue unity and peace amongst members, saying that what happened should be a thing of the past, as he was actually misled and deceived.

The Deputy National President reiterated his commitment to work with Cyril Dum Wite led administration in Rivers State Chapter of SWAN, saying that SWAN is one and there should be no division of any such.

He reels out ideas that can make SWAN viable and enviable in the zone.

“I want peace and unity amongst members of the association in the zone, we are one family, let us work as family. Thank God I am back fully, members of the zone will enjoy the association”, Mr. Nyong said.

Also speaking the Vice President of SWAN south south zone, Azuka Chiemeka, thanked members that attended the meeting and also advised members to work in peace, unity and love with others members to achieve positive result.

It will be recalled Bonny Nyong was suspended in Full council meeting held in Kano following what can be described as misconduct, but was forgiven and his suspension was lifted after he apologised to Full council members in a meeting, held in Abuja, during SWAN@60 celebrations.

By: Tonye Orabere