In a surprising twist ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the full list of match officials—with no Nigerian referee or assistant referee making the final cut.

The announcement has stirred debate across the football community, raising questions about Nigeria’s dwindling presence in continental officiating. According to The Cable, CAF’s newly released roster features referees from countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, and Rwanda, but conspicuously omits Nigeria despite being one of Africa’s football powerhouses.

This isn’t the first time Nigeria has been excluded. Premium Times recalls similar omissions in previous tournaments, sparking concerns over referee development standards within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Meanwhile, Daily Trust reports that several former Nigerian referees have attributed the repeated snub to inadequate training, poor exposure, and a lack of deliberate investment in officiating pathways.

CAF, however, maintains that selections are strictly merit-based. In its official release, the body emphasized that only officials who met fitness, performance, and VAR certification benchmarks were included.

Football analysts argue that Nigeria’s absence on the officiating list is a wake-up call for the NFF to prioritize referee development as vigorously as it does player grooming.

With AFCON preparations in full swing, the spotlight is now not only on the Super Eagles—but on Nigeria’s long-overdue need to reclaim its space in African football officiating.