FIBA certifies 7 Nigerian referees

Authorities of the International Federation of Basketball (FIBA) have certified seven Nigerian basketball referees who excelled at a recent Africa Zonal Referees Clinic, President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) Tijani Umar said on Monday. The certified referees were among 12 Nigerian participants at a clinic held in southwest Nigeria's Lagos State, the NBBF top official told reporters. "In essence, we now have seven of our referees certified as FIBA Africa Zonal Referees. It is really a heart-gladdening development and NBBF wishes to congratulate the referees. We also enjoin them to bring to bear their newly-acquired competence in their basketball assignments," Umar added. According to him, Nigeria will look forward to having more opportunities to call the shots both at the regional and world levels of the basketball game. The NBBF president further expressed hope that the newly certified referees will make the west African nation proud in their new designation, having proved their mettle in the past.