President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has provided clarity on the factors delaying the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.
Speaking with BSN Sports on Tuesday during the official signing of the NPFL’s new broadcast and data rights deal at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Gusau highlighted financial, technical, and logistical challenges as the major reasons for the delay.
According to the NFF boss, the high cost of VAR equipment, the extensive training required for both referees and technical personnel, and the complex logistics of moving the system between match venues have combined to make immediate implementation difficult.
“What’s the essence of purchasing VAR equipment without having the engineers who can operate and manage it?” Gusau questioned. “It involves a huge amount of money to train both referees and engineers to use it effectively. We are, however, planning to begin training our young referees on how to operate and manage the VAR systems.”
Gusau also emphasized the logistical difficulties of deploying VAR across multiple match centers in Nigeria, explaining that each setup requires trained engineers to dismantle, transport, and reassemble the equipment for every fixture, thereby increasing operational costs and time constraints.
“We are currently exploring options for a movable VAR setup that would make the process easier and more efficient,” he added. “By the time we finally introduce VAR in Nigeria, we want to ensure that it is fully functional and sustainable.”
Steps Already Underway
In July, NFF Secretary General Dr. Sanusi Mohammed confirmed that the federation had already begun capacity-building efforts, sending a group of Nigerian referees to Morocco for specialized VAR training.
“The NFF is impressed with the league’s scheduling discipline last season,” Sanusi stated. “We’ve already sent some referees to Morocco for VAR training as we work towards its eventual introduction in the NPFL.”
Similarly, NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye reaffirmed the league’s commitment to improving officiating standards and credibility through technology.
“We’re optimistic about introducing VAR soon,” Elegbeleye said. “Referees have already been selected and trained in Morocco to understand the fundamentals of operating the VAR equipment.”
Path Forward
While the NFF has not provided an exact timeline for VAR’s official launch in the NPFL, Gusau assured that foundational work is ongoing, stressing that the federation prefers a carefully phased approach to ensure sustainability and proper functionality once the technology is introduced.
The eventual deployment of VAR is expected to mark a major milestone in Nigerian football, significantly enhancing the integrity, fairness, and global perception of the domestic league.
Oluwayemi Omolagba