‘Nigerian Referees Are Competent’

The immediate past Secretary of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Sunday Audu, has said that the exclusion of Nigerians as centre referees in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) does not mean they are incompetent. Audu made the statement in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He noted that Nigerian referees had previously officiated at FIFA organised tournaments, which was an attestation to their competence.

“ There is politics in CAF, so if you are not in the board you will be marginalised so that is it, most of the selected match officials are from the francophone countries.

“For our referees to be in World Cup shows that we are no pushover, if we officiate at that level, it shows that we are good enough.

“It will be wrong for anybody to think less of our referees because we have what it takes,” he said. He, however, urged the country’s football authorities to do the right thing to have a foothold in CAF’s decision making process and influence issues in Nigeria’s favour.

“A Nigerian cannot be canvassing for a Benin Republic referee to be selected likewise a Beninoise; so we need someone that will speak for us,” Audu said.