World football governing body FIFA has appointed Togolese Kouassi Attisso Attiogbe as the center referee for Friday’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying match between Nigeria and Liberia, according to matchday one fixtures released, Owosports.com.ng reports.
The Super Eagles who are gunning for their sixth FIFA Worldcup appearance in Qatar 2022, will host Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
According to reports garthed from AOIFootball.com, Attiogbe who is expected to be the center referee, would be assisted by fellow countrymen Komlan Domenyo Adiwotso (assistant referee 1), Lima Kabassima (assistant referee 2), and Yelebodom Gado Bodjona (fourth official).
FIFA has also appointed Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana as Match Commissioner, while Abdellah El Achiri from Morocco will serve as referee assessor.
This will be the second time Attiogbe will be officiating a game involving Nigeria as he was the center referee for the Flying Eagles in their 1-0 win against Guinea Bissau in a 2019 U-20 AFCON qualifier.
The match officials are expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday, while the delegation of Lone Star is scheduled to land in the country on Tuesday.
Similarly, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved only 5,000 spectators at next week’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos,
As it is known, we would like to reiterate that the CAF and FIFA Covid-19 match protocols clearly state that all matches must be played behind closed doors.
“Nonetheless, CAF analyzed and assessed your request from a medical, stadium requirements compliance, and safety & security perspective in your venue.
“Accordingly, a decision has been taken to exceptionally allow the presence of 5,000 spectators in the aforementioned match,” CAF wrote to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in a letter signed by Raul Chipenda, Development Director.