The chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye has identified poor officiating as the primary obstacle confronting the league.
Elegbeleye’s remarks come amidst concerns over the league’s standing in continental rankings and ongoing efforts to address officiating standards.
African Fact Zone’s recent rating did not place the NPFL among the continent’s top ten leagues. This assessment, reportedly based on the Confederation of African Football’s five-year ranking, takes into account clubs’ performances in continental competitions. Notably, no NPFL club has reached the final of any continental competition in the past five years.
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Elegbeleye acknowledged the league’s shortcomings but emphasised that officiating remains a key area of focus for improvement. He expressed determination to weed out subpar officials from the league, citing ongoing efforts by the league body in this regard.
Critiquing officiating standards in NPFL games, Elegbeleye lamented instances of questionable calls, describing them as “heartbreaking” and “mind-blowing.” He stressed the need for urgent action to address these challenges, highlighting the league’s commitment to enhancing officiating quality.
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“It’s heartbreaking and mind-blowing when you see some officiating, and you wonder how come?,” Elegbeleye told Sportsday. “Some are so glaring for all to see that even a non-referee couldn’t have made such a questionable call.
“This has become a major challenge which we are working assiduously round the clock to see how we can address the problem permanently or at least reduce it to the barest minimum.
“Don’t get me wrong, there have been some excellent refereeing, but these bad eggs are what we are trying to expunge from the league.
“We are certainly not there yet but everyone can attest that the league has made some improvements and it’s better than we met it.”
Elegbeleye’s comments shed light on the NPFL’s commitment to addressing its challenges head-on, with a particular focus on enhancing officiating quality to elevate the league’s standing both domestically and on the continent.
