FIFA has formally launched Nigeria’s Worldwide Refereeing Listing for 2026, confirming 30 Nigerian match officers authorized to officiate worldwide competitions throughout a number of refereeing classes.
The annual listing, revealed by world soccer’s governing physique, options referees and assistant referees who’ve met FIFA and CAF’s strict necessities and are cleared to deal with worldwide fixtures. Nigeria’s illustration spans males’s and ladies’s soccer, futsal, and seaside soccer, underscoring the nation’s rising repute and consistency in soccer officiating.
Nigeria’s FIFA Worldwide Match Officers – 2026
Referees & Assistant Referees (CAF)
1. Samuel Pwadutakam – Assistant Referee (2014)
2. Basheer Salisu – Referee (2016)
3. Digbori Tejiri – Assistant Referee (2016)
4. Hannah Elaigwu – Referee (Feminine, 2017)
5. Ogabor Joseph Odey – Referee (2017)
6. Usman Abdulmajeed Olaide – Assistant Referee (2017)
7. Abdullahi Abubakar – Referee (2018)
8. Nurudeen Abubakar – Referee (2019)
9. Abibatu Iyadunni Stockl – Assistant Referee (Feminine, 2019)
10. Mustapha Grema Mohammed – Referee (2020)
11. Olufunmilayo Abigael Alaba – Referee (Feminine, 2020)
12. Mfon Akpan – Assistant Referee (Feminine, 2020)
13. Akintoye Yemisi – Referee (Feminine, 2021)
14. Terah Kabeda Magnificence – Assistant Referee (Feminine, 2021)
15. Abdulsalam Kasimu Abiola – Referee (2022)
16. Ahmad Mustapha Tijjani – Assistant Referee (2023)
17. Muhammad Muhamud Yakubu – Assistant Referee (2023)
18. Egba Patrick John – Referee (2024)
19. Agbons Religion – Assistant Referee (Feminine, 2024)
20. Omada Emmanuel – Assistant Referee (2025)
21. Omotoye Tomilayo Oluwatosin – Referee (Feminine, 2026)
22. Lawal Ridwan Temitope – Assistant Referee (2026)
Futsal Referees (CAF)
23. Ukah Ndubuisi Odigomma (2014)
24. Musa Dung Davou (2015)
25. Bello Zuru Alhassan (2020)
26. Ojeleye John Tope (2025)
Seaside Soccer Referees (CAF)
27. Fawole Olawale Adeolu (2016)
28. Olajide Olayinka (2018)
29. Rabiu Ahmad (2019)
30. Adejoh Noah (2025)
Rising World Presence
The officers on the listing are actually eligible to officiate CAF and FIFA-sanctioned competitions in 2026, together with continental championships, worldwide tournaments, and qualification matches.
Nigeria’s robust illustration—significantly the stability throughout genders and officiating disciplines—displays sustained funding in referee improvement and positions the nation as a dependable contributor to world soccer governance.
With these appointments, Nigeria additional strengthens its footprint on the worldwide refereeing stage forward of a busy 2026 soccer calendar.
