Gerard Izuora
World football body FIFA has indicated through its list that no Nigerian referee will be at Russia 2018 World Cup.
The world governing body has published its list of 36 referees and 63 assistants to stand in the tournament, but none from Nigeria.
No Nigerian referee was deemed good enough by FIFA to be included in the list despite FIFA picking six officials from Africa to represent the Confederation of African Football.
The listed African referees are Abid Charef Mehdi (Algeria), Diedhiou Malang (Senegal), Gassama Bakery Papa (Gambia), Grisha Glead (Egypy), Sikazkwe Janny (Zambia) and Tessema Weyesa Bamlek (Ethiopia).
British referees also failed to make the cut for the first time since 1938.
England’s Mark Clattenburg had been on a long list of referees published in 2016, but he forfeited his place when he left the Premier League for a position in Saudi Arabia last year.
Europe will be represented by referees from Germany, Turkey, Russia, Holland, Poland, Spain, Serbia, Italy, Slovenia and France.