The Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), Mr. George Aluo, has commended the referees who officiated this weekend’s matches in the country’s second-tier league for their professionalism and fair officiating, which contributed to positive outcomes across various match venues.
Mr. Aluo expressed that the excellent performance of the referees allowed teams to secure victories away from home, thereby boosting confidence in the league. He urged them to maintain this momentum as the 2024/2025 League Season approaches its conclusion, suggesting that their efforts will aid in the emergence of champions who the nation can be proud of.
“I want to commend our referees for their commendable performance this weekend. They handled all the matches professionally and without bias. Their impartial officiating enabled Sporting Supreme to achieve a 3-2 away victory against Basira FC, while Sporting Lagos also triumphed over Abakaliki FC with a 3-2 win on the road, and Ijele FC suffered a 0-2 defeat at home to Smart City.
“This demonstrates that teams can now prepare thoroughly for their matches, knowing that a strong performance will not be undermined by any undue advantage from match officials. I urge our referees to maintain this positive approach,” he stated.
In addition, Aluo praised the monitoring team established by the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, for effectively fulfilling their responsibilities, noting that their presence significantly contributed to the referees’ performance.
“It is equally important to commend the NFF monitoring team for a job well done. Their presence at match venues made referees more vigilant in their officiating, as they were aware that any misconduct would attract serious consequences from the football authorities,” the NNL Chairman concluded.