By Kunle Solaja.

The high-profile international friendly between Egypt and Nigeria has been shifted to 16 December, following FIFA’s directive delaying the release of Africa Cup of Nations-bound players.

Originally scheduled for 14 December, the fixture was pushed back two days after FIFA confirmed that clubs are only required to release players from 15 December.

The adjustment is meant to ensure the availability of key stars such as Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush for the encounter.

The match will bring together two sides carrying contrasting legacies in the Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt hold a record seven continental titles but have not lifted the trophy since 2010. The Pharaohs will compete at Morocco 2025 from Group B, where they face South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria, on the other hand, have built a reputation as Africa’s most consistent podium-finishers. The Super Eagles have claimed third place a record eight times—1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2019—and have finished runners-up on five occasions, in 1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023.

The December clash is expected to offer an important test for both sides as they sharpen preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

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By Eby Emenike

When the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the list of match officials for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a worrying detail jumped out: Nigeria was nowhere to be found. Not a referee, not an assistant referee, not even a video match official.

For a country that proudly calls itself the “giant of Africa” in football, the omission is more than symbolic. It is alarming.

Nigeria’s last appearance in AFCON officiating dates back to 2006, when Emmanuel Imiere handled a group-stage encounter between Guinea and Zambia in Alexandria. Nineteen years later, a new generation of African referees is emerging—and Nigeria has no seat at the table.

Continental Comparison

The contrast is stark:

• Egypt – 6 officials
• Algeria – 5
• Morocco – 5
• Nigeria – 0

Even smaller football nations such as Benin, Eswatini and São Tomé & Príncipe are represented.

Why Has Nigeria Fallen Behind?

Football insiders point to three interconnected factors.

Training Gaps:
CAF now requires stringent certification, including VAR competence. Nigerian referees have lagged behind these evolving standards, and few have transitioned into the modern refereeing ecosystem.

Governance Failures:
Refereeing development has not featured prominently in Nigeria’s football administration agenda. Without structured national training pathways, Nigerian officials are left out of CAF’s refereeing pipeline.

Systemic Neglect:
Experts argue this is not a case of individuals failing to rise—it is a system that has stopped producing elite match officials.

A Continental Shift—Women Step Forward

While Nigeria sits out, CAF is expanding the horizon of African officiating. The inclusion of female referees and assistants reflects a progressive shift. Names like Uganda’s Shamirah Nabadda, Cameroon’s Carine Fomo, and Zambia’s Diana Chikotesha underline the arrival of women at the heart of the African game.

This is inclusion in real time—and Nigeria is missing from that story too.

What Must Change

Nigeria’s absence at AFCON 2025 should be a call to action. Investment in refereeing development, modernization of training programmes, and a coherent strategy for talent identification are urgently required.

Football is more than players, coaches and goals. It is officiating, governance, and the structures that hold the entire ecosystem together.

Nigeria cannot continue to boast of football greatness if it remains empty-handed each time Africa’s biggest football event calls on the continent’s best officials. The question now is whether Nigerian football authorities will respond—with policy, investment, and vision—or watch quietly from the sidelines.

As Africa takes steps forward, the danger is that Nigeria may be taking steps back.

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President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, on Monday welcomed Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, President of the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee and head of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, as part of efforts to deepen sporting cooperation between Morocco and Senegal.

The visit focused on strengthening partnership and sharing organisational expertise ahead of major continental and international sporting events.

Both parties highlighted their respective experiences in hosting and preparing global competitions, stressing the importance of continuous consultation to improve organisational capabilities.

Lekjaa encouraged the Senegalese delegation to work closely with the Local Organizing Committee for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, offering day-to-day engagement as a platform for exchanging operational knowledge.

The collaboration, officials said, would enhance technical preparation and reinforce joint efforts in sports event management.

During the meeting, the FRMF President also delivered an update on Morocco’s preparations for AFCON 2025, noting the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and their shared commitment to sports development.

The session was attended by Her Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Morocco.

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