Nigerian FIFA futsal referee Ojeleye John Tope has reached another significant milestone in his officiating career after successfully passing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fitness examination in Morocco on Thursday morning, October 8.

The assessment was part of preparations for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Futsal competition and represents another important step in the Lagos-based referee’s growing international career.

Ojeleye, who represents the Lagos State Football Referees Council and Lagos Football Referees Society, was one of two Nigerian officials who completed and passed the fitness examination.

He travelled to Morocco for the CAF Futsal Pre-Tournament Course alongside fellow Nigerian referee Bello Al Hassan Zuru, with both officials successfully clearing the physical assessment.

The achievement further strengthens Ojeleye’s international profile, having earned his FIFA refereeing badge in 2025 before retaining his international status in 2026.

He has continued to build valuable experience through domestic appointments and international futsal assignments, including qualifying fixtures involving Cape Verde and Senegal.

His participation in the CAF programme provides another opportunity to enhance his technical knowledge, sharpen his officiating standards and position himself for future international appointments.

The fitness examination is a key component of CAF’s referee development programme, particularly in futsal, where officials require speed, endurance, agility and concentration to cope with the demands of the fast-paced discipline.

For the Lagos State Football Referees Council and Lagos Football Referees Society, Ojeleye’s latest achievement offers further encouragement and highlights the progress of Nigerian referees through continental development programmes.

While successfully passing the examination does not automatically guarantee selection for major tournament appointments, it represents an important step towards securing further opportunities on the African stage.

With both Nigerian representatives successfully completing the fitness test in Morocco, Ojeleye John Tope has once again provided a reason for Nigeria’s refereeing community to celebrate, further reinforcing the country’s presence in continental futsal officiating.