Nigeria Referees Association President Sani Zubairu Passes Away After Illness
The President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Alhaji Sani Zubairu (FIFA rtd), is dead, SportsRation reports.
Zubairu, a Bauchi-born retired FIFA referee, passed away after a period of illness, bringing to an end his tenure as head of the referees’ body in Nigeria.
He was elected president of the association at the 2023 delegates conference held at Bovina Hotels in Kwara State on Saturday, April 29, 2023. During his time in office, he played a key role in the administration and development of refereeing in the country.
Beyond football, Zubairu was also involved in politics and had contested National Assembly elections on several occasions.
His death comes barely a year after the passing of his predecessor, Otunba Tade Azeez, who died in 2025.
News of his late Zubairu’s passing was announced on Tuesday, 24th March 2026, and is a major loss to the Nigerian football community, particularly among Referees.
