Linus Mba, an Adviser to world football body, FIFA, on Referees, on Thursday in Abuja said Nigerian referees performed above average in all aspects of match officiating in 2017.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria that he has also seen the determination in them to do more in 2018.
“There is hope for Nigerian referees to compete favourably with their international colleagues in future,” Mba said.
The FIFA Adviser, who called for improved performance, said it was time to elevate the standard of match officiating in Nigeria.
Mba said: “We hope to have referees who will officiate World Cup matches in the nearest future.
“And that is exactly what we are working towards.
“We have young referees being trained for the best.”
Mba restated the imperatives of engendering expertise in the refereeing profession for unbiased match officiating
He said Nigerian referees had been doing well in guaranteeing qualitative league competitions in the country.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Referees Association in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation had in December organised fitness training and symposia for referees for excellent match officiating.
NAN.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
