Twenty-nine Nigerian referees are to officiate as FIFA match officials in 2023.

The referees will receive their badges at a special ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday.

Seven will be badged as centre referees, while another seven will be decorated as assistant referees.

Four of them are women referees, and three are women assistant referees.

Another batch of four is beach soccer referees, while another four are futsal referees. 

Only two of the 29 —Muhammed Yakubu and Tijjani Ahmad, who are assistant referees — are new to the top referees rank.

FIFA referees: Ogabor Joseph, Nurudeen Abubakr, Quadri Adebimpe, Kassim Abdulsalam, Abdullahi Abubakar, Bashir Salihu, and Grema Mohammed.

FIFA assistant referees: Samuel Pwadutakam, Usman Abdulmajeed, Efosa Celestine, Hope Igho, Tejiri Digbori, Muhammed Yakubu, and Tijjani Ahmad 

FIFA beach soccer referees: Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, Fawole Olawale, Olayinka Olajide, and Rabiu Ahmad

FIFA futsal referees: Bello Alhassan, Musa Davou, Paul Umuago, and Uhah Ndubuisi.

FIFA women referees: Ndidi Patience, Hannah Eliagwu, Olufunmilayo Alaba, and Yemisi Akintoye.

FIFA women assistant referees: Mfon Akpan, Beauty Terah and Abibat Yusuf

(NAN)