The real issue was the referee. Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea (Ghana) had fans and even players furious. He called soft fouls against us while Morocco barely got flagged and gave Calvin Bassey a questionable yellow card. Morocco committed fewer fouls but got no cards.

Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel called it “appalling”. Fans are saying the referee disrupted Nigeria’s flow and favored the hosts.

Morocco’s coach denies bias. By penalties, the frustration was already there. When a match ends and players, fans, and neutrals are all talking about officiating instead of football, something went wrong. That’s why Nigerians are angry; not just because we lost, but because the game never felt fair.