The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has released the list of match officials selected to officiate the eagerly anticipated 2025 Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Eight playoffs, scheduled to take place from July 5 to 12 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.
In its bid to uphold the highest standards of officiating, the NFF has named a pool of 16 elite referees and assistant referees drawn from both the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the NNL. The move reflects the federation’s commitment to integrity, professionalism, and technical excellence in Nigerian football.
The Super Eight playoffs will determine the four clubs that will secure promotion from the NNL—Nigeria’s second-tier division—to the top-flight NPFL for the 2025/2026 season.
According to the NFF, the tournament will be staged under the technical supervision of Dr. Alex Sule Mana, while Bola Sekitiri will oversee the physical fitness and preparedness of the officiating team.
Leading the list of referees are NPFL officials Solomon Aweng (Plateau), Bashir Adamu (Kaduna), Abubakar Zubairu (Katsina), Anthony Eze (FCT), and Faro Abdulrahman (Lagos). Top-performing NNL referees also selected include Stanley Chibuiko (Enugu), Henry Osuomon (Edo), and Kalu Ezichi (Abia).
For the assistant referees, the NPFL is represented by Mohammed Ibrahim and Aminu Mammaga (Zamfara), Zachariah Nde (Akwa Ibom), and Dahiru Muazu (Adamawa). The NNL contingent includes Shittu Toheeb (Ogun), Igwe Emmanuel (Rivers), Eze Chinonso (Anambra), and Ciroma Bukar (Borno).
The selected officials will be responsible for overseeing high-stakes fixtures involving the eight qualified clubs — four from the Northern Zone and four from the Southern Zone — all vying for promotion to the NPFL.
The eight participating teams are:
Northern Zone – Wikki Tourists, Doma United, Yobe Desert Stars, and Barau FC
Southern Zone – Warri Wolves, Osun United, Kun Khalifat, and Crown FC
The teams will be divided into two groups per zone, with the top two clubs from each zone earning promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
As the countdown to kickoff begins, the spotlight in Asaba will not only be on the on-field action but also on the quality of officiating — a key component of the NFF’s ongoing push for fair play and professionalism in the Nigerian game.
