FIFA Releases Nigeria’s 2026 International Referees List as 30 Officials Earn Global Approval
FIFA has officially released Nigeria’s Refereeing International List for 2026, confirming 30 Nigerian match officials approved to officiate international competitions across various refereeing categories.
The annual list, published by FIFA, comprises referees and assistant referees who are qualified, vetted, and authorized to handle international fixtures under CAF and FIFA assignments. Nigeria’s representation cuts across men’s and women’s football, futsal, and beach soccer, underlining the country’s growing strength and consistency in football officiating.
Nigeria’s FIFA International Match Officials for 2026
1. Samuel Pwadutakam – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2014 – Male
2. Ukah Ndubuisi Odigomma – Futsal Referee (CAF) – 2014 – Male
3. Musa Dung Davou – Futsal Referee (CAF) – 2015 – Male
4. Basheer Salisu – Referee (CAF) – 2016 – Male
5. Digbori Tejiri – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2016 – Male
6. Fawole Olawale Adeolu – Beach Soccer Referee (CAF) – 2016 – Male
7. Hannah Elaigwu – Referee (CAF) – 2017 – Female
8. Ogabor Joseph Odey – Referee (CAF) – 2017 – Male
9. Usman Abdulmajeed Olaide – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2017 – Male
10. Abdullahi Abubakar – Referee (CAF) – 2018 – Male
11. Olajide Olayinka – Beach Soccer Referee (CAF) – 2018 – Male
12. Nurudeen Abubakar – Referee (CAF) – 2019 – Male
13. Abibatu Iyadunni Stockl – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2019 – Female
14. Rabiu Ahmad – Beach Soccer Referee (CAF) – 2019 – Male
15. Mustapha Grema Mohammed – Referee (CAF) – 2020 – Male
16. Olufunmilayo Abigael Alaba – Referee (CAF) – 2020 – Female
17. Mfon Akpan – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2020 – Female
18. Bello Zuru Alhassan – Futsal Referee (CAF) – 2020 – Male
19. Akintoye Yemisi – Referee (CAF) – 2021 – Female
20. Terah Kabeda Beauty – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2021 – Female
21. Abdulsalam Kasimu Abiola – Referee (CAF) – 2022 – Male
22. Ahmad Mustapha Tijjani – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2023 – Male
23. Muhammad Muhamud Yakubu – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2023 – Male
24. Egba Patrick John – Referee (CAF) – 2024 – Male
25. Agbons Faith – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2024 – Female
26. Omada Emmanuel – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2025 – Male
27. Ojeleye John Tope – Futsal Referee (CAF) – 2025 – Male
28. Adejoh Noah – Beach Soccer Referee (CAF) – 2025 – Male
29. Omotoye Tomilayo Oluwatosin – Referee (CAF) – 2026 – Female
30. Lawal Ridwan Temitope – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2026 – Male
Their inclusion places them in line to officiate major international tournaments, continental championships, and qualification matches throughout the 2026 football calendar, further strengthening Nigeria’s footprint on the global refereeing stage.