Crown FC GM blames poor officiating for first-round struggles in NNL

Crown FC General Manager Olumide Ilupeju has criticized the quality of refereeing in the first round of the Nigeria National League (NNL) season, calling it 'very poor'. He insists this officiating directly impacted the team's performance in the first stanza. Crown FC, known as the Ajilete Warriors, currently sits third in Conference A with 13 points, but Ilupeju argues their campaign could have been better under fairer officiating. The team's last game of the first round was a 1-0 defeat to Sunshine Stars, a result he linked to the overall officiating issues. The NNL first round concluded recently, with clubs now preparing for the second stanza. Teams like Osun United and Basira FC are resuming preparation, while others, including Gateway United, have been fined and banished for assault on match officials. With the season ongoing, Crown FC's management is questioning the consistency of officiating standards that affect team standings and player morale. Given these ongoing officiating complaints across the league, should match official assignments and reviews receive more independent oversight to ensure fair competition for all teams?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/18/nnl-poor-officiating-affected-crowns-first-round-campaign-ilupeju/