In a follow-up engagement with key football stakeholder groups in the nation, the minister of sports development Sen John Owan-Enoh, says that the omission of Nigerian referees for AFCON 2023 duties is a sad reality and thus the need to look inwardly and reorganize the state of football in the country.
The minister who frowned bitterly at the unfortunate development when he met with the leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation, NPFL Club Owners’ Association, on Friday said that Officiating is an integral part of football that could either make or mar the development of the game.
The meeting which was also attended by the members of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), deliberated on key issues necessary for the development of the NPFL and football in the country.
“My earlier engagement with key football stakeholder groups in the nation some weeks ago was to chart a way forward for the development of the round leather game,” he said.
“I describe this engagement as expedient due to the need to take intentional and strategic actions,” Owan-Enoh said. ” Especially on the operations of clubs and match officials.”
When he explained clearly that this will help football grow to an appreciable level of professional admiration. The minister added that “our football cannot be said to be developing, if our referees are excluded from international tournaments year in, year out.”
“As a ministry, we are concerned because this does not spell well for the reputation of the nation,” he noted.