Nigerian referees excluded as FIFA releases list of World Cup officials

Three months to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the referees that will officiate during the football mundial have been unveiled.

FIFA on Thursday released a list of 36 referees and 63 assistant referees appointed as match officials — but no single Nigerian was included in the list.

Six referees and 10 assistant referees from Africa were included in the list.

According to FIFA, “the choice of the final group of match officials selected to officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia was based on each referee’s skills and personality, as well as his level of understanding of football and ability to read both the game and the various tactics employed by teams.

“Over the last three years, preparatory seminars have taken place for referees and assistant referees focusing on fair play, protecting players and the image of the game, as well as consistency and uniformity”.

The selected FIFA World Cup match officials will a seminar for two weeks in April at the technical centre of the Italian Football Association in Coverciano, Italy.

The officials will be divided into two groups, which will also include video assistant referee (VAR) candidates.

Here is the list of African referees and assistants referees for the World Cup.

Six referees from Africa

Abid Charef Medhi (Algeria)

Diedhiou Malang (Senegal)

Gassama Bakary (Papa of Guinea)

Grisha Ghead (Egypt)

Sikawe Janny (Zambia)

Tessema Weyesa Bamlak (Ethiopia)

Ten assistant referees from Africa

Achik Redouane (Morocco)

Ahmed Waleed (Sudan)

Birumushahu Jean Claude (Burundi)

Camera Djibril (Senegal)

Dos Santos Jerson Emiliano (Angola)

Etchiali Abdelhak (Algeria)

Hmila Anouar (Tunisia)

Range Marwa (Kenya)

Samba El Hadji Malick (Senegal)

Siwela Zakhele Thusi (South Africa) - Cable Nigeria