Gwagwalada FA Presents Award To Referee Aminu Salihu Who Officiated Two Abandoned League Matches, Praises Him For ”Excellent Coordination of Other Referees”

L-R: Aminu receiving his award from the FA Chairman 

The Gwagwalada Football Association has awarded a pair of jerseys to Aminu Sahihu, the referee who officiated two abandoned matches in the ongoing  Gwagwalada Football League, this blog can confirm.

In a picture shared on the FA's official Facebook account, the Chairman of the Association, Ibrahim Bako, was captured presenting the pair of jerseys to Aminu. 

Mr. Bako was flanked by Aminu to the left and another referee to the right.

The pair of jerseys was described as a reward for Aminu's "immense contribution towards the ongoing League and for [his] excellent coordination of the referee (sic) in terms of officiating.”

The award was presented in the middle of an ongoing League campaign.

Aminu Sahihu officiated two controversial League matches which were abandoned mid-way following fans' protest against what they described as "unfair" refereeing.

In the match involving Inspirational Academy versus Bucknor Academy on 29 July, Aminu handed out two red cards to Inspirational Academy players and a penalty to Bucknor Academy within five minutes.

The Super 8 tie between Medical Strikers versus Niima on 16 September was also marred by controversies. 

The match was abandoned mid-way, following protests by aggrieved fans.

The fans invaded the pitch after Aminu allowed a Medical Strikers' goal that was flagged for offside by the linesman to stand, within seconds of Niima FC's keeper saving a penalty that was awarded to Medical Strikers in controversial circumstances.

A video of the incident leading to the pitch invasion by fans

Medical Strikers' penalty came from a corner kick. The ball appeared to have hit the leg of a Niima defender. But Aminu wasted no time in pointing to the spot.

The resultant penalty was saved by Chimaobi Emeto, the Niima goalkeeper, whom the FA have now banned for two years, together with three of Niima's players, for what the FA's disciplinary committee described as “assault on the referee and disruption of the match.”

The other three Niima players who were hit with a two-year ban are Mohammed Sadiq, Daniel Dennis, and Uzochukwu Keneth.

The committee also recommended a two year-ban on Niima FC, its Team Manager, Mr. Lamda Ramnap, and Niima's Head Coach, Moses Danladi.

In a document that this blog saw, Niima was hit with a cumulative fine of ₦122,000 for offenses bordering on the abandonment of the match, loss of items, a threat to life, and an insult to the FA chairman, MOC chairman, and the Disciplinary Committee chairman. 

The FA's Disciplinary Committee findings were communicated to Niima without the FA's ratification.

Although Aminu alleged assault in his match report, he would later be captured receiving a pair of jerseys from the FA chairman, as a reward for his "immense contribution to the ongoing League.”

Recall that Aminu Salihu was among Twelve Nigerian League referees suspended indefinitely for dubious officiating in 2021 by the Nigerian Referees Association.

In a similar development, a picture of Aminu participating in the Super 6 draws of the Gwagwalada FA Cup at Boon Bourdilon Hotel, on 17 September was posted on the FA's account.

Aminu participating in the Super 6 FA Cup Draws at Boon Bourdilon Hotel

The final of the Gwagwalada Football League will now be played between Medical Strikers and Bucknor Academy, two teams chaired by the FA chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively.

The date of the final has yet to be announced.