The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the list of referees, assistant referees, and VAR referees for a training course for the highly-rescheduled Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, and no Nigerian match official made the list.
Prior to the actual competition, the course is scheduled to take place in Cote D’Ivoire later in the year.
The 34th AFCON will take place from January 13 until February 11, 2024.
There are no Nigerian officials on the list, which includes 32 referees, 33 assistant referees, and four VAR referees from more than 15 member associations.
Samuel Pwadutakam of Nigeria, who served as an assistant referee at the last competition held in Cameroon, is left out.
To make the final list for the competition, each named official will undergo a medical examination, as well as mental and physical testing.
The officials will be put to the test on technical and tactical analysis of the game, watching match videos, and participating in a special session on match manipulation and integrity.
The training session will be supervised by seasoned former CAF referees Malang Diedhiou (Senegal), Mohammed Guezzaz (Morocco), Felix Tangawarima (Zimbabwe), Jean Claude Birumushahu (Burundi), and Yeo Songuifolo (Cote d’Ivoire), under the direction of FIFA instructor Mike van der Roest.
