The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Development Committee says no fewer than 200 referees have so far survived the ongoing pre-season fitness test ahead of the 2026/27 football season.
Faith Irabor, Chairman of the committee, disclosed this in Abuja while assessing the progress of the exercise, saying the test had exposed referees who were not sufficiently prepared for elite level officiating.
She said about 254 referees were initially expected to participate in the exercise, but the number had dropped to below 200.
“So far, so good. We have achieved what we want. There are a lot of them that were not serious, and those are the people that failed.
“For a top-class and elite referee to fail in lap seven when you are supposed to run 12 laps with ease, shows how unprepared you are,” Irabor said.
According to her, referees invited for the exercise were selected based on their consistency, physical fitness, technical ability and psychological readiness.
She said the exercise was only the preliminary stage, with the successful referees expected to undergo theoretical and practical sessions on the Laws of the Game.
“This is just the preliminaries of the fitness; they will now go to the class room to do the theoretical parts.
“They will practice what they have been taught on the field of play, what they are expected to do when the league starts,” she said.
Irabor said the committee had also strengthened its medical screening process to ensure that referees were medically fit before participating in the demanding fitness exercise.
She explained that referees were required to undergo medical examinations, including ECG and echocardiogram tests, at recognised government hospitals before coming for the exercise.
“We have always taken the precautions and we have taken the necessary steps that are required for you to participate in fitness tests.
“First, you do your echocardiogram and bring the ECG. You go to a recognised certified hospital, the government hospital, and do it. The doctor will write a report on you,” she said.
She added that the medical reports were further reviewed by medical personnel at the venue before referees were cleared for the exercise.
Irabor said the committee was considering further measures to ensure that referees underwent comprehensive medical examinations at designated hospitals in Abuja before participating in future fitness tests.
“We have decided now that moving forward most of them will come to Abuja to a designated hospital for a medical test,”
Also speaking, Emmanuel Miere, FIFA/CAF National Referee Fitness Coach and Instructor for Nigeria and WAFU B, attributed the high number of failures partly to inadequate off-season preparation by some referees.
Miere said referees must maintain their fitness throughout the year rather than waiting until the beginning of a new season before resuming serious training.
“Fitness is all year round. You only have two or three weeks, maximum one month, but for you to relax and call it off-season, thereafter you continue your training.
“You have to do your buildup preparation for the new season because the preparation is much tougher when you are not in the season,” he said.
According to him, referees who fail the fitness test cannot officiate in the league, making the exercise an important qualification for the new season.
He advised referees to train according to their individual fitness levels rather than trying to match the pace of better-prepared colleagues.
“You have to train at your own pace. You don’t follow somebody who has trained very well when you are not trained up to his own level,” Miere said.
He stressed the importance of proper nutrition before fitness tests, saying referees needed adequate energy to sustain them during the exercise.
Miere commended the medical team for its response during the exercise and said the presence of a functional ambulance was mandatory before any fitness test could begin.
“I will not start the fitness without the functional ambulance. That is the rule,” he said.
He said the quality of the exercise had improved compared to the previous season because the committee had adopted a stricter approach.
“This season is far better because we took the bull by the horns. We told them, ‘It’s not going to be business as usual. If you don’t train well, you’re out,’” Miere said.
He expressed confidence that the referees who had completed the exercise were ready for the new season.
Miere said the reduced number of referees would also make it easier for the authorities to monitor their performances during the season.
