Izuchukwu OkosiWorld football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), on Monday released the names of 33 referring officials for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia without a Nigerian named on the roster.
Four of those referees are from Africa underlining the apparent lack of trust on Nigerian arbiters.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelLeading the quartet from the African continent is highly experienced Vincentia Enyonam Amedome of Togo.
Vincentia Amedome officiated the Nigeria versus Ghana Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON qualifier on October 21, 2021 in Lagos.
A total of 55 assistant referees and 19 video match officials made the cut for the tournament which begins in the summer.
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Nine-time African women’s champion, Nigeria, are one of four African countries that will represent Africa at the tournament – the others being: South Africa (champions), Morocco and Zambia.
Cameroon and Tunisia will take part in an intercontinental playoffs for berths at the tournament.
Nigeria is the only African nation that have played in each of the previous editions since the inaugural tournament in 1991 hosted by China.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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