AFCON 2025: Is Morocco being favored by refereeing?

Since the beginning of the competition, Morocco has been achieving a flawless course. There is a collective and individualities that are emerging. The Moroccan team is rising in strength and clearly aims for the final victory. But, is it driven by the arbitration decisions?

Morocco, a very strong collective

Morocco one of the teams that has made a good impression since the kick-off of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lions timidly launched the tournament with a victory (2-0) over the Comoros. Against Cameroon in the quarter-finals, the team achieved one of the best first halves of this competition, completely neutralized the Indomitable Lions and imposed themselves (2-0) to open the doors of the semi finals.

Defensively, Morocco is very robust. The team conceded only one goal and it was against Mali on penalty during the 2nd day of the group phase. Offensively, it’s heavy. 9 goals scored in 4 matches including 5 for Brahim Diaz. The latter is the most seen Moroccan player. Technically, he is above average and has been a constant danger to opposing defenders. 

On all lines, Morocco has important players: Yassine Bounou, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Achraf Hakimi, the African Player of the Year 2025, Sofyan Amrabat, one of the best defensive midfielders on the continent and Ayoub El Kaabi, one of the best African goal scorers in Europe. Clearly, the Moroccan selection is a real fighting force and has all the assets to go all the way.

Errors in arbitrations only in favor of Morocco?

The Atlas Lions are still the first African nation in the FIFA Ranking. Since the fourth place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, this team continues to progress and has also strengthened with several arrivals including Brahim Diaz. Logically, this team is built to win the competition and is among the favorites.

Despite a more or less attractive game and a collective strength, Morocco has seemingly been favored by certain arbitral decisions. Against Mali in the first round, a penalty at the end of the match was not called against the Moroccan team. Tanzania, in the eighth final, could have benefited from a penalty in the final minutes of the match after Adam Masina’s foul on a Tanzanian player. A situation on which the VAR has not returned.

«I saw penalties that would have been siffled out for us. I never talk about the arbitration.»

Against Cameroon in the quarter-finals, several game facts are revealing despite the Moroccan domination in the game. A penalty was forgotten after a foul on Bryan Mbeumo. Bilal El Khannouss could have received a second yellow card after annihilating an offensive play by the Indomptables Lions. Nayef Aguerd’s elbow strike on Christian Kofane not sanctioned But, the Mauritanian referee Dahana Beida and the VAR arbitrators closed their eyes to all these contentious actions. Knowingly? No one knows. 

At the same time, whether it is against Mali, Tanzania or Cameroon, Morocco can also feel aggrieved with each time contentious situations that could lead to red cards for the opponent, or a penalty in favor of the Atlas Lions. The actions of El Kaabi against Tanzania, or of Ezzalzouli and Saibari against Cameroon are just as many countervailing elements.

Questioned about these arbitration controversies around Morocco at the AFCON 2025, Walid Regragui wanted to clarify. 

«Since the beginning of the competition, we know where people want to take Morocco. Many want to make believe that we have advantages at the level of the arbitral body. I saw penalties that would have been siffled for us. I never talk about the arbitration. We went to Côte d'Ivoire, there was a penalty that was not scored against South Africa. I was suspended for no reason. We win on the field. The statistics give us better than the others. We create many more opportunities than the opponent. There is no goal that was withdrawn neither in Cameroon nor in other teams. Afterwards, it’s easy. When one wants to kill their dog, they say it has rabies. We are the team to beat and there we will give all the reasons that we are advantaged. The advantage that Morocco has during this competition is playing for 65,000 spectators. Cameroon has done the match they should have done. I think he fell on better than him. We deserve our victory. Against Tanzania, we deserve our victory. Against Zambia, we deserved our victory. Against Mali, we would have deserved to win and against the Comoros, we deserve our victory. Trying to play in that field, I think it is not fair play from people who want to see us fall," 

he said at a press conference after the qualification against the Indomptables Lions last Friday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat. 

One thing remains certain. The arbitration of the AFCON 2025 semi-final match between Nigeria and Morocco will be scrutinized once again. This meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 20:00 GMT at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat.