Ahead of Morocco’s highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Nigeria in Rabat, head coach Walid Regragui has firmly dismissed allegations from pundits and fans suggesting that tournament officials have been biased in favor of the host nation.
Addressing the “conspiracy theorists” during a pre-match press conference, Regragui criticized the narrative as a recurring attempt to undermine African footballing achievements, stating, “It’s always a shame to go down this path; they want to make people believe that matches are always won this way.”
To counter claims of leniency, the coach pointed to specific uncalled penalties from Morocco’s quarter-final victory over Cameroon, emphasizing that refereeing inconsistencies are a global phenomenon rather than a targeted agenda.
Maintaining a focus on sporting merit, Regragui concluded that “the only way to win is on the pitch, by winning our matches,” while urging both the media and supporters to back the officials and end the cycle of feeling perpetually wronged.