NFF to acquire truck for VAR training across WAFU-B zone
Nigeria Football Federation President and WAFU-B President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has sparked excitement among football leaders across the sub-region with a pledge that the NFF will acquire a truck
Nigeria Football Federation President and WAFU-B President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has sparked excitement among football leaders across the sub-region with a pledge that the NFF will acquire a truck to transport Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment — currently domiciled at the zone's headquarters in Abidjan — to member countries for referee training.
"It is imperative to address a critical issue concerning our referees in WAFU-B. One major challenge confronting our referees is the lack of adequate VAR training. In collaboration with the NFF, we will endeavour to acquire a truck to facilitate the transportation of this equipment to member-countries of WAFU-B, to train their referees in VAR operations.
"This will benefit both male and female referees by providing comprehensive VAR training, thereby elevating the standard of officiating in our region," Gusau said at the opening ceremony of a three-day CAF Women's Football Administrators workshop in Abuja.
Gusau also challenged participants — heads of women's football from the seven WAFU-B member countries — to commit to developing the game from the grassroots.
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"We must put in place drastic measures to harness the talent of young women players from the grassroots, because that is the only way there can be graduation from the youth to the senior level.
"I trust that all participants will concentrate to have a productive, enriching, and inspiring workshop, in order that we can build stronger structures, create more opportunities, and give the women's game in West Africa the place it truly deserves."
He said participants were carefully selected because "you are the people who develop pathways for girls and women, and turn strategic visions into daily reality."
NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi charged participants to pay close attention to each presentation and return to their respective countries with ideas to transform the women's game.
WAFU-B Executive Director Philippe Tchere praised Gusau's offer and expressed confidence in the future of refereeing across the sub-region.
"The offer of a truck to transport the VAR equipment to member-countries is the biggest news of the week for me. God bless President Gusau. God bless Nigeria," he said.
Nigeria legend Precious Dede, WAFU-B's Football Development Manager, alongside CAF instructors Jules McGeever of England and Thuba Sibanda of Zimbabwe, are serving as facilitators for the three-day workshop.
Also in attendance were CAF Head of Women's Football Goshime Meskerem, WAFU-B Women's Football Commission President Amina Amani, NFF Director of Communications Dr Ademola Olajire, and NFF Director of Competitions Ms Ruth David.
