Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has refused to blame Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea following his side’s defeat to host nation Morocco in the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Nigeria lost the semi-final 2-4 on penalties to the host following a goalless draw after extra time.
Speaking after the match, Chelle admitted his team fell short in key areas and deserved the outcome.
“We missed a lot of things. Intensity, technically, the movement. Morocco, they deserve this victory,” Chelle said.
Despite some controversial moments during the encounter, the Nigerian coach chose not to focus on officiating, instead pointing to his team’s overall performance as the main reason for the loss.
The Super Eagles were outplayed by a well-organised Moroccan side, who controlled large spells of the game and took their chances to secure a place in the final.
Morocco turn their attention to the final where they will face 2021 champions Senegal as they chase AFCON glory on home soil, aiming to break their 50-year-old drought.
