World football governing body, Fifa, has approved 30 Nigerian referees to participate in various international games next year.

They comprise 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four beach soccer referees and four futsal referees, Ademola Olajire, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesperson, said in a statement on Thursday.

He said the referees included Basheer Salisu, Ogabor Odey Joseph, Olufunmilayo Abigael Alaba, Nurudeen Abubakar and Abdulsalam Kasimu Abiola.

Nigerian football officials have often missed out on international competitions, including the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.