Ahead of Nigeria showdown, Morocco coach tells critics to leave referees alone
By: Akinde S. Oluwaseun
Walid Regragui didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. The message was clear anyway.
With Nigeria standing between Morocco and an AFCON final, the Atlas Lions coach has come out strongly in defence of African referees, urging everyone to stop turning officiating into the main story. Players. Journalists. Fans. All of them.
Speaking on Tuesday, at his pre-match press conference, Regragui said the endless arguments over referees are slowly damaging the game. Too much noise. Too many distractions. Not enough football.
“Talking about refereeing is bad,” he said. Straight to the point. “We are in a beautiful continent. There’s a lot of work being done. But some people think we win matches because of referees.”
He insisted he doesn’t go down that road. No public complaints. No blaming officials, even when results hurt. Not even after Morocco’s elimination in Côte d’Ivoire.
“I only talk to my players about the pitch. About winning matches,” Regragui explained. “You will never hear me complain about referees. We must help them, not attack them.”
For him, the controversy isn’t uniquely African. It’s football, everywhere. One game, a penalty is given. Next game, it’s not. Same contact. Different decision. That’s how it goes.
He pointed to moments involving his own team. A penalty against Tanzania that sparked debate over physical differences between players. Incidents against Mali and Cameroon too, where he felt Moroccan players were fouled but play continued. Names mentioned. Bilal El Khannouss. Abde Ezzalzouli.
“If VAR had been used properly, those decisions would have been different,” he said. Calmly. Almost casually.
Now, attention shifts to Wednesday night. 9pm kick-off. Nigeria waiting. Morocco chasing a place in the final and an end to a long wait for continental glory. The last time they lifted the trophy was 1976. A long time ago.
This time, Regragui wants the story to be simple. No whistles. No conspiracy. Just football.
