Morocco manager Walid Regragui has rubbished referee bias claims ahead of his side’s semi-final clash against Nigeria at AFCON on Wednesday.
Regragui Rubbishes Morocco Referee Bias Claims at AFCON
Walid Regragui has rejected claims that referees at AFCON 2025 are favouring Morocco ahead of the host nation’s semi-final clash against Nigeria in Rabat on Wednesday night.
The Atlas Lions claimed a 2-0 win over Cameroon in the quarter-finals, but many fans and pundits have questioned the referee’s decisions in the aftermath of the controversial result.
Bryan Mbuemo and co saw several penalty claims waved away over the course of 90 minutes.
Morocco boss Regragui has dismissed talks of bias from match officials, stating his side’s only advantage against Nigeria in the semis will be playing in front of over 60,000 home fans.
He told reporters in his pre-match press conference on Monday: “As the team to beat, people will try to find all sorts of reasons to say Morocco has an advantage.
“The only advantage that Morocco has is playing in front of 65,000 spectators. The rest is on the field, we speak on the field.”
Regragui continued: “Statistics show we are better than our opponents. We create more chances, and no goals were wrongly disallowed. Some people just look for excuses.”
The Atlas Lions head into the clash boasting a 25-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
It’s a run that stretches all the way back to their round of 16 exit at the 2023 edition of the finals.
Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi believes Morocco are ‘looking scary’ ahead of the encounter, with both nations vying for a spot in Sunday night’s final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Regragui’s side head into the clash as favourites to advance to the final, and they are also the bookmakers’ favourites to lift the trophy in Rabat following the full-time whistle on Sunday.
Regragui: “Talking About Refereeing is Bad”
After continuously being asked about refereeing decisions at AFCON, the Atlas Lions’ boss urged fans and journalists to concentrate on the matches themselves rather than the officials.
“Talking about refereeing is bad. We are in a beautiful continent, there is a lot of work being done, and some people imagine we win matches thanks to referees,” Regragui said.
“A penalty is given in one match and not in another. That is football.”
The 50-year-old also cited decisions that have gone against Morocco at the tournament, recalling fouls on Bilal El Khannouss and Abde Ezzalzouli that were ignored by the officials.
“If VAR had been used properly, those decisions would have been different.”
Regragui concluded: “I only talk to my players about the pitch and winning matches.
“You will never hear me complain about referees, even after our elimination in Côte d’Ivoire.
“We must help referees, not attack them.”
Morocco’s clash against Nigeria gets underway in Rabat at 20:00 on Wednesday evening, following on from the opening semi-final between Senegal and Egypt in Tangier at 17:00.
