NPFL loses elite referee in pre-season fitness test

The Nigeria Football Referees’ Association (NFRA) has mourned the death of one of its members, Solomon Aweng Maram, who reportedly slumped and died while participating in a pre season fitness test organised for referees ahead of the 2026/2027 football season.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chukwudi Ejimofor, the NFRA said Maram, an elite referee of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) cadre and member of the Plateau State Referees’ Council, died on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, after he collapsed during the physical fitness exercise at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Blueprint reports

His death has thrown the Nigerian football refereeing community into mourning, with the association describing him as a highly regarded match official and one of the outstanding referees in the country.

Tragedy during fitness test

Maram was among referees participating in Batch A of the ongoing pre season training programme organised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through its Referees’ Committee.

The exercise is part of preparations for the new football season and is designed to assess the physical readiness of match officials who may be considered for appointments in the NPFL and other national competitions.

Before taking part in the physical fitness test, referees are required to undergo medical examinations. According to the NFRA, Maram had successfully completed the medical examination and was cleared by medical personnel to participate in the fitness test.

He was placed in the second group of Batch A referees for the exercise.

However, tragedy struck towards the finishing point of the race when Maram suddenly slumped.

Medical team battled to save him

The NFRA said the standby medical team at the stadium immediately moved in to attend to the referee after he collapsed.

Emergency medical procedures were reportedly administered, including drugs and oxygen, in an attempt to revive him.

After the initial emergency response at the stadium, Maram was transferred into an ambulance stationed at the venue and rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja, for further medical attention.

Despite efforts by medical personnel at both the stadium and the National Hospital, the referee was later confirmed dead.

NFRA describes death as tragic blow

Reacting to the incident, the Acting President of the NFRA, Sir Kelechi Mejuobi, described Maram’s death as a tragic blow to the association and the entire refereeing fraternity in Nigeria.

Mejuobi said the incident had plunged referees across the country into mourning, stressing that the association had lost a highly valued member.

According to him, Maram was “a rare gem” and “one of the best among the pack of elite referees in Nigeria,” describing him as a thoroughbred match official who had earned immense respect within the profession.

The NFRA Acting President also commended the medical personnel who attended to Maram, saying both the medical team at the stadium and doctors at the National Hospital made efforts to save his life.

Healthcare remains priority

Mejuobi further emphasised that the NFF Referees’ Committee and the NFRA place considerable importance on the health and safety of referees, particularly during fitness tests and other physically demanding programmes.

He noted that emergency medical arrangements were available at the venue and were immediately activated when Maram collapsed.

The death of the referee nevertheless comes as a major loss to Nigerian football, particularly to the Plateau State refereeing community, where he served as a member of the state Referees’ Council.

Association commiserates with family

The NFRA, through its Acting President, conveyed its condolences to Maram’s immediate family, the Plateau State Referees’ Council and the wider football community in Plateau State.

The association said it shared the grief of the deceased’s family and colleagues following the loss of a referee whose career was cut short while preparing for the new football season.

Ejimofor said the NFRA stands with the family and the entire football fraternity in Plateau State during the period of mourning.