Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has announced that the league, in partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has shortlisted 10 Nigerian referees for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) training in Morocco.
Speaking with PUNCH Sports Extra, Elegbeleye revealed that the referees selected are all computer literate—an essential requirement for mastering the VAR technology—as the league moves toward modernising its officiating standards.
“The next level now is that we want to advance to the level of having VAR in the league,” Elegbeleye said. “The Federation shortlisted 10 of our referees who are computer literate to go to Morocco for training.”
He also disclosed that the NPFL board has already engaged with VAR manufacturers and suppliers, saying, “We as a league body had an online meeting with the manufacturers of VAR and the producers of the machine.”
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to elevate the quality of officiating in the NPFL and align it with global standards.
