Nigeria NFF Addresses Referee Concerns Ahead of Nigeria-Morocco AFCON Semi-Final

The Digest:

The Nigeria Football Federation has moved to calm rising anxieties over the appointment of a Ghanaian referee and South African VAR official for Wednesday’s high-stakes AFCON semi-final against Morocco.

Key Points:

• The NFF has addressed concerns over CAF’s choice of match officials for the semi-final.
• Ghana’s Daniel Laryea will referee, with South Africa’s Abongile Tom as VAR chief.
• The appointments raised eyebrows due to historic rivalries with both nations.
• NFF President Ibrahim Gusau expressed confidence in the officials’ neutrality.
• Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui also dismissed claims of refereeing bias.
• He noted controversial decisions have gone against Morocco earlier in the tournament.
• Nigeria enters the match as the tournament’s top-scoring side with 14 goals.

In the theatre of continental rivalry, where history and emotion often cloud judgment, the purest form of competition depends on a shared belief in fairness, a whistle that blows for the game, not for a nation.

Source: Soccernet, Complete Sports