Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, has firmly rejected allegations of biased officiating following his team’s 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations. Speaking after the match, Regragui stated that claims of favoritism stem from rivals seeking to undermine his team’s achievements.
“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,” he said. The coach emphasized that the only edge his team possesses is the support of approximately 65,000 spectators at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. He insisted that the match’s outcome should be determined solely by the players on the field.
Despite Morocco’s strong performance, the game was marred by contentious officiating decisions. Referee Dahane Beida faced criticism for not awarding Cameroon two potential penalties. The first incident involved Morocco defender Adam Masina, who appeared to foul Bryan Mbuemo after misplaying the ball. In another instance, Masina seemed to strike Etta Eyong in the penalty area with his elbow.
Moreover, Beida opted not to issue a second yellow card to Moroccan player Bilal El Khannouss for a foul against Danny Namaso, shortly before Ismael Saibari sealed the victory for Morocco. Regragui noted, “Many people want to believe or make others believe that we have advantages from the referees,” while also referencing past incidents where he felt Morocco did not receive fair treatment.
In the previous tournament held in Ivory Coast, Regragui claimed he was “suspended for no reason” after a dispute involving Chancel Mbemba, the captain of the Congo team, which escalated into a confrontation. The coach’s suspension was tied to his actions during that incident.
Statistics support Regragui’s assertion that Morocco has been dominant throughout the tournament. “We create far more opportunities than our opponents,” he remarked, highlighting that his team has not had any goals disallowed in the current competition. He pointed out that both Mali and Tanzania had penalty claims against Morocco denied in earlier matches, while Morocco did receive a penalty after a VAR review in a match against Mali.
The crowd in Rabat has played a significant role in creating an intimidating atmosphere for opposing teams and referees alike. Regragui acknowledged Cameroon’s effort in the match but maintained that Morocco deserved the win. “I think they lost against a better team. I don’t think any player, coach, or anyone else is going to talk about the refereeing because there were a lot of physical battles today. This is Africa,” he stated confidently.
Looking ahead, Morocco is set to face either Nigeria or Algeria in the semifinals on January 18, 2024. The final of the tournament will also take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Regragui expressed hope that the best team would prevail in the tournament, reinforcing his commitment to fair play amidst ongoing scrutiny.
