From Ikorodu to the world – Meet Jelili Ogunmuyiwa – The Nigerian Referee Making History In Beach Soccer

The 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup started on April 8 in the Bahamas. Of the 24 officials appointed for the matches, Nigerian referee, Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, was the first African to officiate in five different editions of the competition. With this record, he has the second highest number of FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances, behind Brazil’s Moraes Ivo who has six.

Ogunmuyiwa who is also the first African referee to officiate in a semi-final at the tournament, received his FIFA badge in 2008 – the same year he made his World Cup officiating debut in Marseille. Speaking about his FIFA appointment, he said to Naija Football Plus:

“Hard work and commitment took me to this level, and the readiness to learn and improve my officiating, and to be conversant with the FIFA laws. It is not a personal achievement, but a national one, for the country to produce an African referee with the most appearances at the World Cup.”

In addition to officiating in every edition of the annual beach soccer event, COPA Lagos, the 38-year-old referee also handles top matches in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). He is also a notable AFCON referee.

  

In 2013, Ogunmuyiwa was awarded Referee of the Year at the Nigeria Pitch Awards. His aim is to officiate the World Cup finals game someday, and we just can’t wait for that to happen.