FIFA has released a list of 195 Beach Soccer referees from 77 different countries, and four Nigerian Referees are listed. The quartet of FAWOLE Olawale Adeolu, RABIU Ahmad, OLAJIDE Olayinka and the most experienced OGUNMUYIWA Jelili FIFA Referee since 2008 will officiate in various international matches in the year 2022.
Speaking to Jelili, who expressed his joy to be recognised as one of two FIFA referees with a long international career listed amongst the 195 referees, and looks forward to officiating in 2022.
“This year marks my fourteenth career refereeing for beach soccer. But I’m particularly happy that we now have a female African referee from Burundi also listed. This only means the game is growing across the continent, and can only be better”
“While I’ll like to commend CAF’s referring department which is doing quite a lot to ensure African referee’s performance levels with their counterparts in other confederations. I call on all relevant stakeholders to support CAF so more African Referees will join the list.”
Jelili
Speaking further, he expressed his confidence that more Nigerian referees are set to join the list soon with the launch of the Nigerian national beach soccer league currently in its second year, which means more frequent matches to officiate, and more experience for the likes of Adejo Noah, Habib Salisu, Ahmad Muhammad, Misbahu Mohammed, Bello Alhassan and Nura Muhammad who are new beach soccer referees in Nigeria.
Mr. Jelili congratulated all Football Associations with beach soccer referees listed, including CAF Referee instructors.
