Nigeria’s Football Federation has moved to calm rising tension over officiating at the Africa Cup of Nations ahead of Nigeria’s clash with Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports.
The NFF’s move comes after the Confederation of African Football appointed a Ghanaian referee and a South African VAR chief for Wednesday’s semi-final between the Super Eagles and hosts Morocco.
Ghana’s Daniel Laryea will take charge of the match in Rabat, with South Africa’s Abongile Tom leading operations in the Video Assistant Referee room. It is a combination that has raised eyebrows in Nigeria, given the long and sometimes bitter rivalries involved.
Ghana and South Africa are perceived in Nigeria as two nations who would not want to see the Super Eagles reach the AFCON final.
Nigeria and Ghana remain fierce West African rivals in what is often dubbed the ‘Jollof derby’, while South Africa recently pipped Nigeria to the automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Ghana also ended Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, and a South African sports minister recently expressed his country’s displeasure at the Super Eagles publicly.
CAF has, however, stood by its choices. Laryea will be assisted by Zakhele Siwela of South Africa and Souru Phatsoane of Lesotho, with Rwanda’s Samuel Uwikunda named fourth official. In the VAR room, Tom will be supported by Tunisia’s Haythem Guirat and Kenya’s Stephen Onyango Yiembe, while Ethiopia’s Lidya Tafesse will serve as referee assessor.
Despite widespread concern among Nigerian fans, NFF president Ibrahim Gusau insisted there was no reason to fear the officials.
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“I do not have the same fears of the match officials being biased as some people have,” Gusau said, per the Guardian.
“I believe that the grass is always green and that the playing pitch is level. I do not see a situation in which the match officials will be working against any team’s interest.
“Last summer, we were here in Morocco, for the Women Africa Cup of Nations, and we played the host nation in the Final, even coming from two goals behind to achieve victory. There is nothing to fear. This is the highest level of football on the African continent, and the officials know that CAF as well as the whole world are watching, and will not do anything untoward.”
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Nigeria vs Morocco: Regragui hits back at bias claims and urges focus on football
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has also strongly rejected suggestions that referees have been favouring the host nation, describing such claims as harmful and familiar.
“It’s always a shame to go down this path,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “They want to make people believe that matches are always won this way.”
He added:
“Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s always been the case on the African continent to sow doubts and controversies… You journalists need to do your job.”
Regragui argued that inconsistency in refereeing decisions exists everywhere.
“A penalty can be given one way in one match and not in another. A handball is called in one match and not in another.
“I watch a lot of matches because we have many players in Europe, and the controversies are the same everywhere, in Africa or in Europe.”
He even pointed to incidents that went against Morocco in earlier rounds at the AFCON:
“One of their defenders puts his foot on Abde (Ezzalzouli)’s ankle, and if VAR reviews the play, it’s a penalty… The goalkeeper comes out to challenge (Ismael) Saibari and puts both hands in his head, that’s a penalty. But neither were given.”
Still, Regragui insisted:
“The only way to win is on the pitch, by winning our matches… We take responsibility, we move forward, and we work hard.”
“We hope the referee will be fair to both teams tomorrow, as he has been since the start of the competition.”
Morocco are chasing a third AFCON final appearance and their first title since 1976. Nigeria, meanwhile, are aiming for a record ninth final and arrive as the tournament’s most in-form side, having scored 14 goals, their highest ever at a single AFCON.
The match will be played on Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.