By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 13, 2026

Morocco coach Walid Regragui has rejected insinuations that his team are benefitting from contentious refereeing decisions as the hosts of the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, ahead of their semi-final clash against Nigeria in Rabat on Wednesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Atlas Lions overcame Cameroon 2-0 in their quarter-final clash last Friday, but the victory came under scrutiny as the Indomitable Lions were at the end of unfavourable calls during the game.

Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida was accused of denying Cameroon two penalties, with Morocco defender Adam Masina involved in both incidents.

He appeared to catch Bryan Mbeumo’s right boot after missing the ball when Cameroon were trying to level the match. Then, in the final minutes, he also appeared to strike Etta Eyong’s head with his elbow in the penalty area.

Beida, who refereed the final at the last edition, also decided not to show Bilal El Khannouss a second yellow card for stopping Danny Namaso on a counterattack shortly before Ismael Saibari wrapped up the win.

There were also other claims against Morocco in their games against Mali and Tanzania, but Regragui dismissed the allegations.

“We’re the team to beat. As the team to beat, people will try to find all sorts of reasons to say Morocco has an advantage,” Regragui said via Al Jazeera.

“The only advantage that Morocco has at this Africa Cup is playing in front of 65,000 spectators. The rest is on the field; we speak on the field.

“Many people want to believe or make others believe that we have advantages from the referees. Personally, I saw penalties that could have been awarded to us. As for the referees, I never talk about the referee,” Regragui added.

Morocco have played all their matches at the nearly 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where they will also face Nigeria on Wednesday. The stadium will also host the final on January 18.

Both teams are undefeated, with Nigeria winning all five of their games, while Morocco have recorded four wins and a draw.

Wednesday’s game will be their sixth meeting at the AFCON. Morocco have won three of those fixtures, while Nigeria have two wins.

This is also their first meeting in 22 years at AFCON and the second time they face each other in an AFCON semi-final. Nigeria won the previous semi-final clash in 1980, triumphing 1-0 courtesy of Felix Owolabi’s ninth-minute winner en route to Nigeria’s first title on home soil.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 13, 2026

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