A Stolen Game: Nigeria, Morocco & The AFCON 2025 Officiating Scandal
By DAVID JOHN-FLUKE
AFCON 2025 Semifinal: When Officiating Becomes a Weapon
NIGERIA’S semifinal clash with Morocco at AFCON 2025 ended in heartbreak—not because of player performance, tactics, or stamina, but due to officiating that defied the Laws of the Game. Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea’s decisions repeatedly favored Morocco, undermining Nigerian players’ rights and exposing structural flaws in CAF’s referee appointment process.
Weaponized Whistle and the Bassey Incident
From kickoff, Nigeria faced a hyper-surveillance regime. Moroccan fouls were ignored, while Nigerian players were penalized for minor contact. The most glaring example was Calvin Bassey’s booking: while being held illegally by a Moroccan defender, he inadvertently contacted the opponent and received a yellow card. This was a textbook violation of Law 12, illustrating selective rule enforcement that punished the victim while rewarding the aggressor.
External Interference and Goalkeeper Sabotage
CAF officials compounded the imbalance. Nigerian goalkeeper Nwabili had his towel—essential for grip and safety—repeatedly removed by pitch-side officials, breaching IFAB Laws 3, 4, and 5. Play was allowed to continue, denying the team recourse. Such interference highlights systemic gaps in enforcing the Laws against external disruption.
Unequal Discipline: The Yellow Card Void
Over 120 minutes, Morocco committed repeated reckless challenges without receiving a single yellow card. Nigerian players, meanwhile, were consistently penalized. Free kicks were denied, promising attacks stifled, and momentum destroyed. This imbalance was not a refereeing lapse—it was orchestrated.
CAF Politics and Conflict of Interest
Questions arise over CAF’s integrity. Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa, CAF First Vice President and president of the Moroccan federation, has an inherent conflict of interest. Referee appointments from politically entangled countries, combined with consistent biased enforcement, suggest deliberate institutional favoritism that undermines African football’s credibility.
Conclusion: A Continent’s Credibility at Stake
Nigeria lost on penalties, but the match was stolen during play. When referees and officials operate as instruments of administrative preference, talent, preparation, and discipline become meaningless. Until CAF reforms its referee accountability and isolates politics from officiating, African football risks ongoing disillusionment and diminished global respect.
