Morocco coach angrily rejects AFCON ref bias for hosts before semifinals

Morocco progressed to the semifinals beating Cameroon 2-0 but Indominable Lions felt they had 2 wide penalties.

Morocco manager Walid Regragui has angrily rejected suggestions his squad is benefitting from favourable refereeing decisions arsenic the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) host.

“We’re the squad to beat. As the squad to beat, radical volition effort to find each sorts of reasons to accidental Morocco has an advantage,” Regragui said aft his team’s 2-0 triumph implicit Cameroon successful the quarterfinals Friday.

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“The lone vantage that Morocco has astatine this Africa Cup is playing successful beforehand of 65,000 spectators. The remainder is connected the field, we talk connected the field.”

On the field, however, Cameroon mightiness person had 2 penalties if experienced referee Dahane Beida hadn’t decided successful favour of the location team.

Morocco defender Adam Masina was progressive successful both, appearing to drawback Bryan Mbuemo’s close footwear aft missing the shot erstwhile Cameroon was trying to level the match, then, successful the last minutes, appearing to onslaught Etta Eyong’s caput with his elbow successful the punishment area.

Beida, who refereed the last astatine the past edition, besides decided not to amusement Bilal El Khannouss a 2nd yellowish paper for stopping Danny Namaso connected a counterattack soon earlier Ismael Saibari wrapped up the win.

“Many radical privation to judge oregon marque others judge that we person advantages from the referees. Personally, I saw penalties that could person been awarded to us. As for the referees, I ne'er speech astir the referee,” Regragui said.

The Morocco manager past spoke astir a punishment his squad was not awarded against South Africa successful the erstwhile tourney successful the Ivory Coast, and wrongly said helium was “suspended for nary reason” astatine that tournament.

Regragui was suspended for 2 games astatine the erstwhile variation for his relation successful a quality with Congo skipper Chancel Mbemba astatine the extremity of their crippled that led to a melee betwixt players and squad officials.

“The statistic ever amusement america arsenic amended than the others,” Regragui said, getting backmost to this edition. “We make acold much opportunities than our opponents. Not a azygous extremity was disallowed for Cameroon, oregon for immoderate different team. When you privation to get escaped of something, you find a pretext.”

Mali and Tanzania besides had punishment claims against Morocco rejected successful erstwhile games, portion Morocco besides had a punishment awarded aft a VAR cheque successful the gully against Mali.

Thousands of whistling Moroccan fans tried to assistance referee Abdou Abdel Mefire marque up his caput portion helium consulted replays earlier helium yet decided to penalise Mali’s Nathan Gassama for handball. He initially ignored Jawad El Yamiq’s penalty-area foul connected Mali’s Lassine Sinayoko earlier awarding it immoderate minutes aboriginal aft a VAR check.

There did not look to beryllium immoderate VAR checks against Cameroon connected Friday.

Morocco has played each its matches astatine the astir 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium successful Rabat, wherever the immense bulk of supporters are shouting for the location team, creating an intimidating ambiance for opponents and referees.

“Today, Cameroon played the lucifer they needed to play. I deliberation they mislaid against a amended team. I don’t deliberation immoderate player, coach, oregon anyone other is going to speech astir the refereeing due to the fact that determination were a batch of carnal battles today. This is Africa. But today, I deliberation we deserved our victory,” said Regragui, who added his squad besides deserved to triumph each its erstwhile games.

“That’s it. We’re trying to play connected that field. I don’t deliberation it’s just play from those who privation to spot america fall. The champion squad volition triumph this tournament, inshallah,” helium said.

Morocco volition play either Nigeria oregon Algeria successful the semifinals connected Wednesday. The last volition besides instrumentality spot astatine the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium connected January 18.

The Atlas Lions are among the dense favourites to triumph the tournament, having go the archetypal African federation to scope the semifinals of a FIFA World Cup astatine the Qatar 2022 edition.