Posted by By Fidelis Ebu on
Four Nigerian referees have been selected to participate in the fitness test to ascertain their suitability for the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt from January 20 - 10 February.
ABUJA - Four Nigerian referees have been selected to participate in the fitness test to ascertain their suitability for the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt from January 20 - 10 February.
Apart from the fitness test, which is scheduled for November 23 to 29 in Cairo, the referees would also be involved in other series of tests as directed by the Confederation of African Football to ensure unbiased officiating during the continental championship.
The referees include Dr Alex Manna, Engineer Emmanuel Emiere, Toyin Ogini and Bola Abidoye; the only female amongst them.
Elated at the selection of the four referees, the secretary of the Nigerian Referees Association, Sunday Audu said yesterday in Abuja that he is optimistic of the candidates making the final list to officiate in the Nations Cup finals. 'These are experienced and tested referees whose performance cannot be faulted. I have no doubt in their capability. Take Bola; the only female from the lot for instance, she has recently participated in a course in London organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Such a referee is loaded of new innovations and ideas on how best modern football ought to be handled. These and some others not selected for the Nations Cup are capable hands any day" thus vouched Audu in a chat yesterday in Abuja.
The CAF Manager National Teams Competitions, Competitions Division, Shereen Arafa when contacted yesterday in Egypt via email, said the Referee Department was yet to receive the full list of referees for screening for the continental championship and promised to make it available as soon as it is available.
He said that, 'the Web Site and the window of the referees will remain blank until CAF referees committee makes the appointments according to their own schedule".
It was learnt that the selected referees have been contacted on their successful entrant onto the CAF list, and they are expected to leave for Cairo on or before November 20, 2005.