The Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo, has praised the officiating team for their performance during the Matchday 21 fixture between Gateway United and Osun United, held on Saturday at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
The match, which ended 2-1 in favour of Gateway United, was described by Aluo as a showcase of firm and fair officiating. He singled out centre referee Babayanju Saheed from Ondo, along with his assistants Alalade Taofeeq and Bako Tajudeen from Kwara State, for their professional conduct.
“I must commend the high level of professionalism displayed by the centre referee, Babayanju Saheed, and his two assistants,” Aluo stated. “They were firm, fair, and completely in control throughout the game. Their performance gives us hope that Nigerian referees have come of age.”
Aluo stressed that consistent officiating of such quality is crucial for the credibility and growth of the league. He noted that the NNL’s strategy of assigning experienced officials to key fixtures is yielding positive results, with similar commendable performances reported from other centres.
“This kind of officiating makes it difficult for teams to complain. It was a tense, entertaining game, but the officials were solid,” he said. “When referees perform like this, it boosts confidence in the league system. I’m pleased with what I saw.”
He called on the league body to maintain the standard, especially with the Super 8 approaching, emphasizing that sound officiating is essential for fair play and the integrity of the competition.
The game itself lived up to expectations, offering a thrilling contest and an electrifying atmosphere — now backed by a strong vote of confidence from the league’s top official.
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