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AFCON Referee Daniel Nii Ayi Shrugs Off Backlash After Nigeria–Morocco Semi-Final

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4 weeks ago

6:26 am

AFCON Referee Daniel Nii Ayi Shrugs Off Backlash After Nigeria–Morocco Semi-Final

Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi has responded to the criticism that followed his officiating during Wednesday night’s AFCON semi-final between Nigeria and hosts Morocco in Rabat.

The Super Eagles were eliminated after a 4–2 penalty shootout defeat, following a goalless draw after regulation and extra time. In the aftermath, the result sparked widespread backlash from Nigerian fans and members of the team, many of whom questioned several key decisions made by the centre referee.

Supporters accused Nii Ayi of favouring Morocco with crucial calls during the tightly contested encounter. Some also directed criticism at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for appointing a Ghanaian official to officiate a match involving Nigeria, citing regional rivalry between the two nations.

Super Eagles players were not silent on the issue either, with Akor Adams and Bright Osayi-Samuel among those who openly expressed their displeasure. Osayi-Samuel, in particular, claimed the referee made a number of incorrect decisions that disrupted the flow and influenced the outcome of the game.

Reacting to the criticism during a chance meeting with Sporty TV pundit Klinton, Daniel Nii Ayi played down the backlash, insisting that such reactions are part of the sport.

“No, it’s okay. It’s football,” the Ghanaian referee said when asked about the criticism surrounding his performance in the semi-final.

Nigeria’s defeat brought an end to their hopes of claiming a fourth AFCON title. The Super Eagles will now shift focus to the third-place playoff against Egypt in the bronze medal match scheduled for Saturday.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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