Brazilian Referee Sandro Ricci, has been assigned to officiate Nigeria’s world cup opener against Croatia in Kaliningrad on Saturday.
Ricci, who is a civil servant, entered the record books as the first referee to validate a goal by GLT; during a World Cup game between France and Honduras – It was also his debut at the tournament.
Interestingly, it will not be Ricci’s first encounter with Nigeria. The Brazilian was in charge of proceedings during the 2016 Olympic Game quarter-final match between Denmark and Nigeria – which the Dream Team won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Mikel Obi and Aminu Umar.
He was also in-charge when Nigeria picked Bronze in the Olympic Football tournament against Honduras.
On Saturday, the 43-year-old will be assisted by compatriots, Emerson De Carvalho and Marcelo Carvalho Van Gasse; the same pair who assisted Ricci at the Olympics.
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