May 25, 2015 – FIFA Referees Development Officer, Carlos Manuel Neves Henriques has challenged Nigeria’s elite referees to start performing at the same level as the National Teams of Nigeria.
The South African spoke at the opening ceremony of the FIFA Member Association Elite Referees Course in Abuja on Monday. He was referring to the fact that the U-20 National Team, Flying Eagles, will play at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand, while the Falcons are also in Canada for the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.
Henriques spoke on behalf of Lim Kee Chong from Mauritius, a former FIFA referee of high pedigree who is serving as technical instructor at the programme, and Mark Ephraim Nzengo from Malawi, who is the physical instructor.
“We are convinced that Nigeria has the calibre of referees who can perform at the highest level as the Nigeria National Teams, and with your energy, commitment and enthusiasm, I believe you will get to the top,” remarked Henriques.
NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, who represented the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, harped on the commitment of the new NFF administration to seeing Nigerian referees take their place at the top table of the international game.
