This happened following an invitation by the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), who had the intention of improving the status of the match officials.

The men who failed the fitness exercise were among a group of sixteen refs invited for the event, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Speaking in a chat with NAN, an instructor at the programme said, “This is the first set of non-badge referees that will take this test and it is not easy but some of them didn’t take it serious.

“About fifty per cent of them passed the test and I am happy for the invited female referees because all of them passed.

“Five out of the seven invited male referees failed the test and they will wait till next year for another opportunity.

“They can come in November for another test for them to qualify to officiate in the national league, but as an international referee? No."

According to NAN, 44 referees were in attendance for the event which was held for a period of two days.