Toki Kolapo, Chairman, Osun State Referees Council has applauded officials officiating at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d`Ivoire.
Kolapo said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Monday.
“The officiating has been very fantastic and I have no doubt in the abilities of the referees and other officials. They are doing a very good job.
“There are no lapses anywhere and even if there are any, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is there to serve as a guide and this is even minimal.”he said.
On the absence of Nigerian referees at the tournament, Kolapo said it may not be unconnected to the lack of standard and modern officiating tools and gadgets.
“I am not speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) but in my personal capacity.
“Nigerian referees were not selected for AFCON because we lack some officiating skills due to the lack of facilities.
“We lack some equipment, especially in terms of earpiece and microphone system that allow officials to communicate in real-time with one and another during matches.
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“We don’t also have the VAR machine in use during matches in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
“Nigerian referees are better off than some currently officiating at the AFCON, but because we don’t have these gadgets our referees are not rated,” he said. (NAN)
