FIFA has officially released Nigeria’s Refereeing International List for 2026, confirming Hannah Elaigwe and 29 Nigerian match officials approved to officiate international competitions across various refereeing categories.

 

The annual list, published by the world football governing body, comprises referees and assistant referees who have been qualified, vetted, and authorized to handle international fixtures under Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA assignments.

 

Nigeria’s representation spans men’s and women’s football, futsal, and beach soccer, reflecting the country’s growing depth, consistency, and credibility in football officiating on the continental and global stage.

 

Among those retained and newly added to the list are experienced referees who have served for over a decade at international level, as well as younger officials earning FIFA recognition for the first time in 2026. The blend highlights continuity and succession within Nigeria’s refereeing structure.

 

Female officials also feature prominently on the list, underlining increasing gender inclusion in Nigerian football officiating. Several women referees and assistant referees are cleared to handle high-level international fixtures across Africa and beyond.

 

The officials cleared for international duty in 2026 are:

1. Pwadutakam Samuel – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2014 – Male

2. Ukah Ndubuisi – Futsal Referee (CAF) – 2014 – Male

3. Musa Dung Davou – Futsal Referee (CAF) – 2015 – Male

4. Basheer Salisu – Referee (CAF) – 2016 – Male

5. Digbori Tejiri – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2016 – Male

6. Fawole Olawale Adeolu – Beach Soccer Referee (CAF) – 2016 – Male

7. Elaigwe Hannah Enekole – Referee (CAF) – 2017 – Female

8. Ogabor Joseph Odey – Referee (CAF) – 2017 – Male

9. Usman Abdulmajeed Olaide – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2017 – Male

10. Abdullahi Abubakar – Referee (CAF) – 2018 – Male

11. Olajide Olayinka – Beach Soccer Referee (CAF) – 2018 – Male

12. Nurudeen Abubakar – Referee (CAF) – 2019 – Male

13. Abibatu Iyadunni Stockl – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2019 – Female

14. Rabiu Ahmad – Beach Soccer Referee (CAF) – 2019 – Male

15. Mustapha Grema Mohammed – Referee (CAF) – 2020 – Male

16. Olufunmilayo Abigael Alaba – Referee (CAF) – 2020 – Female

17. Mfon Friday Akpan – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2020 – Female

18. Bello Zuru Alhassan – Futsal Referee (CAF) – 2020 – Male

19. Akintoye Yemisi – Referee (CAF) – 2021 – Female

20. Terah Kabeda Beauty – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2021 – Female

21. Abdulsalam Kasimu Abiola – Referee (CAF) – 2022 – Male

22. Ahmad Mustapha Tijjani – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2023 – Male

23. Muhammad Muhamud Yakubu – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2023 – Male

24. Egba Patrick John – Referee (CAF) – 2024 – Male

25. Agbons Faith – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2024 – Female

26. Omada Emmanuel – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2025 – Male

27. Ojeleye John Tope – Futsal Referee (CAF) – 2025 – Male

28. Adejoh Noah – Beach Soccer Referee (CAF) – 2025 – Male

29. Omotoye Tomilayo Oluwatosin – Referee (CAF) – 2026 – Female

30. Lawal Ridwan Temitope – Assistant Referee (CAF) – 2026 – Male

 

Their inclusion places them in contention to officiate major international tournaments, continental championships, and qualification matches throughout the 2026 football calendar, further strengthening Nigeria’s footprint in global football refereeing.