AFCON 2025: Gusau Dismisses Officiating Fears as Super Eagles Remain Confident Ahead of Morocco Clash
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has played down fears of biased officiating ahead of the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash with hosts Morocco on Wednesday night in Rabat.
Speaking ahead of the second semi-final, Gusau said he does not share the concerns expressed by some Nigerian fans about possible manipulation by match officials in favour of the host nation.
“I do not have the same fears of the match officials being biased as some people have,” Gusau said. “I believe that the grass is always green and that the playing pitch is level. I do not see a situation in which the match officials will be working against any team’s interest.”
He recalled Nigeria’s experience in Morocco during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations last year, when the Super Falcons defeated the host nation in the final despite going two goals down.
“Last summer, we were here in Morocco for the Women Africa Cup of Nations, and we played the host nation in the final, even coming from two goals behind to achieve victory. There is nothing to fear,” he added.
Gusau stressed that AFCON is the highest level of football on the continent and said officials would be mindful of global attention. “This is the highest level of football on the African continent, and the officials know that CAF as well as the whole world is watching, and will not do anything untoward,” he said.
The NFF president’s comments come amid widespread concern among Nigerian supporters that the match officials could favour Morocco, who are chasing a second AFCON title, 50 years after winning their first.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp remains calm and confident ahead of the game. The players have continued to follow their daily routine professionally, training at the Complexe Sportif Mohamed VI and staying at the Hotel Rihab.
Reports from the Morocco camp suggest that the Atlas Lions are wary of the influence of Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi. The 29-year-old has been outstanding at the tournament, supplying 22 line-breaking passes in Nigeria’s 4–0 win over Mozambique and 14 more in the quarter-final victory over Algeria. Nigeria won both matches without conceding a goal.
Iwobi also provided the assists for Nigeria’s first two goals of the competition in the 2–1 win over Tanzania on 23 December in Fés.
The midfielder, who made his Super Eagles debut against DR Congo in October 2015, is expected to earn his 96th international cap when Nigeria face Morocco on Wednesday night.
