The NFF coaching refereeing drive has moved up a gear, with the Nigeria Football Federation rolling out capacity programs aimed at raising standards across the game. Highlighted by Football in Nigeria and Blueprint, the NFF coaching refereeing programs include CAF licence courses for coaches and structured training for referees as the federation tries to build officials who can perform at the highest levels.
The NFF coaching refereeing programs explained
On the coaching side, the NFF Technical Department is working to resume the CAF A-License course in Nigeria for the first time in nine years. The federation plans to hold the course in Abuja from August 2, 2026 to February 7, 2027, running for seven months across six modules. A CAF B refresher course for coaches has also been launched to update existing holders.
These licences are essential for coaches who want to work at elite club and national-team level. By hosting the courses at home, the NFF reduces the cost and travel burden for Nigerian coaches and rebuilds a pipeline that had stalled for nearly a decade, giving local talent a clearer route to the top.
Lifting refereeing standards
Refereeing reform is the second pillar. The NFF hosted a FIFA Member Association Course in Abuja from June 7 to 19, 2026, timed to brief Nigerian officials on amendments to the Laws of the Game before their mandatory domestic implementation from July 1. The federation has charged referees to lift their standards following the course.
The NFF has also pledged to train at least 10 Nigerian referees on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology before the end of the year. As VAR spreads across African competitions, having qualified local officials becomes increasingly important for credibility, fairness and the smooth running of domestic matches.
Recruiting young talent
Federation leaders have stressed that recruitment should target young people, with the NFF President arguing that officials should be drawn from junior secondary school age. The reasoning is that starting earlier gives referees more time to climb through the grades toward Grade 1 status and, eventually, a place on the FIFA list.
Programmes covering young talent, beach soccer and FIFA elite referees form part of the structured pathways the federation is building. The intention is to develop officials and coaches systematically rather than relying on one-off courses that fade once the cameras leave.
Why it matters for Nigerian football
Better-trained coaches and referees underpin the quality of domestic leagues and the strength of national teams. Poor officiating has long been a complaint in Nigerian football, while access to top coaching qualifications shapes how local talent is developed and retained within the system.
Investing in both areas addresses problems at the root rather than papering over them. Stronger officiating can reduce disputes and improve the spectacle, while better coaching raises the standard of play from grassroots pitches upward, feeding more polished players into the professional ranks.
If sustained, the NFF coaching refereeing programs could improve standards from junior leagues to the Super Eagles. With CAF licences returning and VAR training under way, the federation is signalling that capacity building, not just results, is central to its long-term plans for the Nigerian game.
