Sports
AFCON 2023: Probe Launched Into Exclusion Of Nigerian Referees
Minister of Sports Development, John Owan-Enoh, has voiced his disappointment concerning the omission of Nigerian referees from the list of match officials for the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
Enoh shared his discontent in Abuja on Thursday when reacting to the roster of match officials unveiled by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the January 2024 tournament.
He emphasized that considering Nigeria’s rich football history and large population, the country should not consistently find itself in this unfortunate situation.
The minister pledged to initiate discussions with pertinent stakeholders, including the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), with the aim of overturning this ongoing trend.
He said “At the last AFCON (2021), Nigeria only had one assistant referee listed amongst the match officials. Two years prior, we didn’t have any centre referee too.
“Going into the next AFCON (2023), we still won’t have any Nigerian officials; I am going to interrogate this matter.
“We will have engagements with the NFF, the Referees’ Association, and the League Board because we need to get to the bottom of this,”
He reaffirmed his dedication to fostering a thriving sports environment in Nigeria, enabling the country to attain a prominent position on the global stage.
Recall that on Tuesday, CAF unveiled a total of 85 referees, encompassing center referees, assistant referees, VAR officials, and technical instructors for the upcoming 2023 AFCON.
Notably, no Nigerian officials were included in this comprehensive list. Egypt and Algeria, both located in North Africa, have the highest representation with three center referees each, followed closely by Morocco, Mauritania, and Mauritius, each contributing two referees.
Other nations represented on the list include Gabon, Ghana, Benin, Congo, Somalia, and more.
The list of assistant referees also features two representatives from Morocco, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, as well as officials from lesser-known nations like Comoros, Djibouti, Burkina Faso, and Sao Tome and Principe.
Four VAR referees have been designated, hailing from Mauritius, South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt.
Additionally, the following nations have been chosen to provide technical instructors and physical trainers: Zimbabwe, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Morocco, and Djibouti.
The 2023 AFCON finals are scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, featuring a total of 24 nations competing for the championship, including Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Former Belgian international footballer, Radja Nainggolan was arrested on Monday in connection with a large-scale investigation into cocaine trafficking through the port of Antwerp, the Brussels prosecutor’s office has confirmed.
The arrest followed a series of raids conducted across Belgium in the early hours of the morning. Several suspects were detained, including Nainggolan, as part of the operation.
“The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium,” prosecutors said in a statement.
READ ALSO: Super Eagles Await Group Stage Fate As AFCON Draw Holds In Morocco
Further details regarding the case have not yet been made public.
Nainggolan, 36, who was born in Antwerp, recently came out of retirement to join Belgian second-division club Lokeren. The midfielder made his debut over the weekend, scoring a goal in a 1-1 draw against K. Lierse.
The former national team star enjoyed a decorated career, earning 30 caps and scoring six goals for Belgium. He also played for top Italian clubs, including Roma, Inter Milan, and Cagliari, before returning to Belgium in 2021 to join Royal Antwerp. However, his stint there ended in early 2023, following a series of controversies.
Known for his brash personality and off-field incidents, Nainggolan was suspended in late 2022 after being caught smoking an electronic cigarette on the bench, according to Belgian media.
No timeline has been given for further proceedings.
Reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International F.C., will be flying into Maiduguri, Borno State, for their crucial Matchday 21 clash against the President Federation Cup holders, El-Kanemi Warriors F.C.
Biztellers reports that the Flying Antelopes would be flown by Max Air.
Inside sources at the Enugu Rangers have it that following a disappointing home loss in their previous match, the “Flying Antelopes” are determined to regain their winning form.
It was gathered that a 27-man delegation will depart Abuja on Monday morning for the short flight to Maiduguri, with the match scheduled for Wednesday, January 29th, 2025.
ALSO READ: Super Eagles Await Group Stage Fate As AFCON Draw Holds In Morocco
The team aims to swiftly move past their recent setback against Niger Tornadoes and climb back up the league table.
“We are heading to Maiduguri with the sole objective of securing a positive result and keeping pace with the front-runners,” declared team captain, Ugwueze Chinemerem. “We have analyzed our previous match and are fully focused on regaining the lost ground.”
It’s worth noting that in the reverse fixture earlier this season on August 31st, 2024, Rangers and El-Kanemi played to a goalless draw at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will learn their group-stage opponents today as the draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes center stage in Morocco.
The tournament, hosted by the North African nation for the second time since 1988, is set to be one of the most spectacular editions in AFCON history.
In 1988, the competition featured just eight teams, but this year, 24 nations will compete for Africa’s biggest football prize.
READ MORE: Super Eagles Secure Spot In AFCON 2025 After Rwanda’s Loss
Nigeria, placed in Pot 1, will avoid fellow top-seeded teams such as Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire in the group stage.
However, they could face challenging sides from Pot 2, including Cameroon, Mali, and Tunisia.
This year’s AFCON promises to be grander than ever before, featuring more teams than the 1988 edition, and a thrilling opening ceremony.
The ceremony will showcase some of the biggest names in African football history, with legends such as Egypt’s Essam El Hadary, Cameroon’s Patrick Mboma, Tunisia’s Aymen Mathlouthi, and Ivory Coast’s Gervinho set to grace the event.
Adding to the excitement, a musical extravaganza will take place, with performances from Morocco’s Hatim Ammor, Congolese sensation Maître Gims, and renowned Moroccan music producer RedOne.
Recall that on Saturday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the official logo for AFCON 2025.
The design reflects Morocco’s rich cultural heritage, featuring the AFCON trophy adorned with zellige, the traditional Moroccan mosaic art, symbolizing the country’s unique blend of tradition and modernity.
The 24 qualified nations have been divided into four pots based on their FIFA rankings:
Pot 1: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire
Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso
Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin
Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
The draw will place these teams into six groups of four, with the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout stage, promising thrilling action throughout the tournament.
Egypt, the most successful nation in AFCON history with seven titles, will aim to extend its dominance.
Côte d’Ivoire, the defending champions, have lifted the trophy three times, while Cameroon boasts five titles. Nigeria, with three championships, and Algeria, with two, are also strong contenders.
Morocco, the hosts, will look to replicate their 1976 triumph, their only AFCON victory.
Back then, the tournament followed a unique format, with the top four teams from the group stage playing in a final round-robin.
Morocco emerged victorious in Ethiopia, but this time, they will aim to claim the title on home soil in front of their passionate fans.
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