EDO STATE HOST SOUTHERN ZONE PRE-SEASON FITNESS TEST, SEMINAR FOR NNL, NWFL AND NLO MATCH OFFICIALS

Ohis Asein

BENIN CITY, EDO STATE — Edo State is Currently hosting the 2026/2027 pre-season zonal seminar and fitness test for referees, assistant referees and assessors officiating in the Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) and Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO).

The comprehensive programme, scheduled to take place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, will bring together match officials from the South-East, South-South, South-West and Kwara State for a combination of medical screening, physical fitness tests, classroom sessions, seminars and field work ahead of the new football season.

The exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for the officials to update their knowledge of the Laws of the Game, undergo physical assessment and prepare for the demands of the 2026/2027 season.

The assessors' programme will be conducted in two batches. The first batch, comprising officials from AB, AK, AN, CR, DT, KW, IM, LG and ED, will arrive for registration and medicals on September 19, 2026, before the fitness/classroom sessions on September 20 and departure on September 21.

The second batch of assessors — OD, BY, EB, EN, EK, OG, OS, OY and RV — will register on September 21, with the fitness and classroom programme scheduled for September 22 and departure on September 23.

For referees and assistant referees, the programme will be conducted in two groups.

Group A, comprising Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Lagos and Ondo States, is scheduled to register on September 23, with medicals and fitness activities following on September 24. Seminar and field work will take place on September 25 and 26, while departure is scheduled for September 27.

Group B comprises Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Kwara States. Registration is scheduled for September 27, followed by medical and fitness activities on September 28, seminar and field work on September 29 and 30, and departure on October 1.

The hosting of the South Zone programme further places Benin City at the centre of preparations for the new domestic football season, with the historic Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium providing the venue for the physical and technical aspects of the exercise.

The participation of officials from across the South and Kwara State also underscores the importance of the zonal programme in ensuring that referees, assistant referees and assessors meet the required physical and technical standards before being considered for appointments during the 2026/2027 season.

With the NNL, NWFL and NLO competitions requiring competent and physically prepared match officials, the Benin City exercise is expected to play an important role in ensuring improved officiating standards across the domestic leagues.