Nigerian Football
When Referees Decide the League: A System That Is Failing Nigerian Football
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigerian football has seen this movie before. The script rarely changes. Only the victims do.
When controversial officiating becomes routine, when patterns of “human error” consistently harm particular clubs, and when referee appointments remain opaque, the question is no longer about mistakes.
It is about the system.
In 1986, the IICC Shooting Stars became the centre of controversy after the late Chief Lekan Salami accused referees of bribery. What followed was a season of decisions that many believed were punitive. By the end, the once-dominant club had been relegated.
In 2000, after the late Col. Yabilsu, then Chairman of the Nigerian Referees Association, was attacked in Ilorin, Kwara United were banished from their home base to Calabar for the remainder of the season. At the time, they were top of the league. What followed defied football logic: a 14-match losing streak in the second stanza. Fourteen straight defeats. From first place to relegation.
Football can be unpredictable. But not that predictable.
Today, once again, questions swirl around officiating standards. Clubs complain. Fans protest. Analysts point to recurring inconsistencies. Yet the structure responsible for referee appointments remains largely insulated from scrutiny.
It is almost certain that Remo Stars, the current Nigerian champions, are doomed to relegation, no matter how hard they struggle. This is just not their season, as it is apparent that Nigerian referees are bent on getting the club relegated. Last December, the club owner, Kunle Soname, cried out about an apparent referees’ gang-up, just as the late Chief Lekan Salami did, four decades ago.
As Chief Lekan Salami did 40 years ago, Kunle Soname last December publicly questioned officiating standards in the Nigeria Premier League. In the weeks that followed, his club found itself at the centre of contentious refereeing decisions that have deepened the debate.
Instead of improvement, it has gone from bad to worse in successive matches. Yet the Nigerian football administrators have not bothered to look into the complaints of questionable referees’ appointment, as well as the glaring poor image of the Nigerian referees, who are hardly considered in international championships.
And here is the real danger: perception.
Once fans believe referees can influence league outcomes, the integrity of the competition collapses. Sponsors hesitate. Investors retreat. Television audiences shrink. Credibility evaporates.
Perhaps this persistent domestic controversy also explains why Nigerian referees struggle to secure regular appointments at major continental and global tournaments. While officials from countries with far smaller football footprints, including Burundi, Chad, Mauritania, Djibouti and Lesotho, have featured at recent editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria has been conspicuously absent.
Save for the brief cameo of Samuel Pwadutakam at the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, no Nigerian referee had been appointed to the AFCON in nearly two decades. For a country that prides itself as a continental football powerhouse, that statistic is difficult to ignore.
Whether by coincidence or consequence, prolonged absence at elite competitions inevitably raises questions about domestic officiating standards, development structures, and institutional credibility.
For a nation of Nigeria’s football stature, participation at the highest refereeing level should be routine, not rare
International bodies are uncompromising about integrity. If domestic officiating is repeatedly controversial, global trust naturally declines.
No league grows under suspicion.
The referee appointment committee must no longer operate like a closed circle. Transparency must replace discretion. Merit must replace influence. Independent performance review mechanisms must be instituted. Technology must be embraced.
Because when referees become more powerful than results, the competition is already compromised.
Nigerian football deserves better.
And until the officiating structure is reformed, history will keep repeating itself with different clubs, the same controversy, and the same damage to our national sporting image.
This nonsense has to stop.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s planned participation in a four-nation invitational tournament later this month is facing serious uncertainty after a significant escalation in Middle Eastern tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The Super Eagles were scheduled to compete in Amman, Jordan, from March 27 to 31, alongside Iran, Jordan and Costa Rica, as part of preparations for future competitive fixtures and squad building. But recent geopolitical developments have cast doubt over whether the event can still go ahead as planned.
An official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed to Sports Village Square that the situation is being closely monitored, with security and travel concerns emerging as key factors in deciding the tournament’s fate.
The doubts stem from joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, which triggered a sharp escalation in hostilities and sparked retaliatory actions across the region, including reports of attacks and counter-attacks in neighbouring countries.
The unfolding crisis has already led to airspace closures, flight cancellations and broader travel disruptions in the Gulf and Levant, complicating international travel plans for teams and supporters alike.
The Super Eagles had planned to open the tournament against Iran on March 27 at the Amman International Stadium before facing hosts Jordan four days later. However, Iran’s participation itself is now in question as the security situation deepens and Iranian football authorities weigh their options amid the conflict.
The tournament was seen as a valuable opportunity for head coach Eric Chelle to assess his squad in a competitive setting before the next major competitions, which include the 2027 Afcon qualifiers.
Jordan, who will make their own debut at the 2026 World Cup, was using the event to build momentum on home soil, but the escalating crisis places not just Nigeria’s fixtures at risk, but the entire mini-tournament.
The NFF has not yet announced an alternative plan should the tournament be cancelled or postponed.
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Matchday drama unfolded across centres in the Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) as title contenders stumbled, traditional powerhouses flexed their muscles, and the race for continental places tightened significantly.
Rivers United’s grip at the top suffered a dent after a shock 1–0 defeat to Bayelsa United in a tense South-South derby. The slim victory handed Bayelsa a crucial three points while slowing Rivers’ momentum at a critical stage of the season.
The biggest statement of the weekend came from Bendel Insurance, who dismantled Ikorodu City 4–0 in a ruthless display. Insurance were clinical from start to finish, overpowering their visitors and boosting both their goal difference and their standing in the upper half of the table. For Ikorodu City, who had been firmly in the mix near the summit, the heavy loss could prove costly in the long run.
Enugu Rangers also strengthened their position with a composed 2–0 victory over Nasarawa United. The Flying Antelopes controlled proceedings and capitalised on their chances, ensuring maximum points against a direct rival in the race for honours. With Rivers United dropping points, Rangers’ win significantly narrows the gap at the top.
In Aba, Enyimba were held to a 1–1 draw by Kun Khalifat in a fiercely contested encounter. The People’s Elephant had to settle for a point despite home advantage, a result that may affect their ambitions of climbing into the continental qualification spots.
Elsewhere, Niger Tornadoes and Warri Wolves played out a goalless draw in a tightly fought affair where defences dominated, and clear chances were scarce.
Remo Stars continued their battle against relegation with a 2–0 triumph over Katsina United in Ikenne.
Remo Stars begin redemption course with a 2-0 defeat of Katsina United
Ibadan, Shooting Stars delighted their supporters with a spirited 2–1 victory over Kano Pillars. The Oluyole Warriors demonstrated resilience and tactical discipline to edge the encounter, keeping their push for a higher finish on track.
Sunday Results
- Bayelsa United 1-0 Rivers United
- Bendel Insurance 4-0 Ikorodu City
- Enugu Rangers 2-0 Nasarawa United
- Enyimba 1-1 Kun Khalifat
- Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Warri Wolves
- Remo Stars 2-0 Katsina United
- Shooting Stars 2-1 Kano Pillars
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The race for promotion in the 2025/2026 season of the Nigeria National League (NNL) has gathered momentum, with relegated sides Akwa United and Doma United pushing strongly for an immediate return to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Both former top-flight campaigners have shown resilience since dropping to the second tier last season. Akwa United currently lead Conference B with a game in hand, underlining their determination to bounce back at the first attempt. Meanwhile, Doma United sit atop Conference C despite suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sokoto United on Matchday 11.
Southern Conference Delivers Drama
Matchday 11 in the Southern Conference produced thrilling encounters, further tightening the race for promotion.
In Conference A, two away wins, one home victory and a draw defined the round. The headline fixture between table-toppers Inter-Lagos FC and second-placed Beyond Limit FC ended in a goalless stalemate in Abeokuta. The result ensured Inter-Lagos maintained their grip on first place, though Beyond Limit remain firmly in contention.
Elsewhere, Smart City edged Edel FC 1-0, Gateway United secured a similar 1-0 win over Crown FC, while Sunshine Stars boosted their campaign with a convincing 2-0 triumph over Abia Comets. The victories have intensified the competition in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely fought groups in the league.
Conference B: Akwa United Hold Firm
Conference B continues to heat up as teams battle for supremacy. Osun United claimed a crucial 1-0 away victory at Abakaliki FC, while Rovers FC defeated Stormers 1-0 in Calabar.
Despite the pressure from chasing teams, Akwa United remain firmly in control at the summit. With a game in hand, the Promise Keepers are well-positioned to strengthen their promotion bid in the coming weeks.
Conference C: Doma United Stay Ahead
In Conference C, Sokoto United handed leaders Doma United a 1-0 setback, but the defeat did little to dislodge them from the top. Doma remain on 19 points, narrowly ahead of FC Basira, who climbed to 18 points after a 2-0 win over Lobi Stars.
The slim margin between the top sides suggests a tense battle ahead, with every point likely to prove decisive in the quest for a top-two finish.
Conference D: Northern Battle Intensifies
Yobe Desert Stars moved temporarily to the summit of Conference D with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Ranchers Bees, taking their tally to 15 points. Jigawa Golden Stars edged Adamawa United 1-0, while Gombe United and Kebbi United settled for a goalless draw.
Promotion Race Wide Open
With each conference producing unpredictable outcomes, the NNL promotion race remains delicately poised. For traditional heavyweights Akwa United and Doma United, the objective is clear: secure one of the coveted promotion spots and return to the Nigeria Elite League.
As the season progresses, the intensity is expected to rise further, with fans across the country watching closely to see which clubs will earn the right to rejoin Nigeria’s top-flight next season.
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