Several key members of the Algeria national team expressed frustration with officiating after their 2–0 quarter‑final loss to Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Marrakech, saying that a clear penalty was missed and that refereeing decisions influenced the match’s flow.
Mahrez: ‘I Hate Talking About Refereeing After a Defeat’
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez, widely recognised as one of Africa’s most technically gifted players, addressed the contentious refereeing moments in his post‑match remarks, acknowledging his reluctance to focus on officiating but insisting there were key incidents that should have been reviewed.
“I hate talking about refereeing after a defeat, but it’s true there was a clear penalty for us in the first half and plenty of fouls and cards that weren’t given,” Mahrez said.
Congratulations to Nigeria for qualifying, they were stronger than us, that’s the reality!”
Mahrez’s comments reflect widespread debate among fans and analysts over several decisions in the match, particularly an incident involving a potential handball in the Nigerian box that was not reviewed by VAR.
Although Algeria’s complaints gained traction among their camp and fans, Nigeria’s 2–0 victory, courtesy of goals by Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams, stood firm, securing their place in the semifinals against Morocco. Nigeria’s coach Eric Chelle and players did not publicly dwell on refereeing decisions, choosing instead to focus on their performance.
As AFCON 2025 progresses to the semifinal stage, discussions around refereeing decisions are likely to remain part of the tournament narrative, especially as high‑stakes matches generate increased scrutiny.