Nigeria’s Newly Decorated FIFA Referees Kickstart Their 2025 Journey with Fitness Race at MKO International Stadium

Less than 24 hours after receiving their prestigious FIFA International Referee badges for 2025, Nigeria’s elite group of football officials took to the track at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium in Abuja to participate in their first quarterly fitness race in 2025. This event marked the beginning of a new chapter for the newly decorated referees, including the Assistant Referees, Beach, and Futsal Referees.

The quarterly fitness race is a critical requirement for international referees, serving as a vital test of their physical endurance and readiness for continued international assignments. These fitness assessments are conducted regularly to ensure that referees maintain the high physical standards demanded by FIFA and are capable of performing at the highest level during international matches.

Present at the event were key figures from Nigeria’s football community, including Alhaji Sani Zubairu, the Head of the Referees Unit, and Ameenu Mohammed, the Secretary of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Referees Committee. Both officials were on hand to oversee the smooth execution of the race and to support the referees in their fitness journey.

In addition to the newly appointed FIFA referees, several referees from the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) who had missed the preseason fitness race for various reasons were also invited to participate. This inclusion ensures that all referees are deemed fit and eligible to officiate in the upcoming football season, maintaining the integrity and quality of officiating in the country’s top-tier league.

This event marks a significant step in Nigeria’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of football officiating, setting the stage for more international recognition and participation in major tournaments by Nigerian referees.