AFCON 2025: Bright Osayi-Samuel angry after elimination

Nigeria’s elimination by Morocco in the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations leaves a bitter taste for the Super Eagles, particularly because of the refereeing decisions.

After the match, defender Bright Osayi-Samuel did not mince his words, criticizing the refereeing, which he considered unworthy of such a stage of the competition.

In his view, the outcome of the match was largely influenced by avoidable mistakes that disrupted the flow and fairness of the game.

When questioned in the mixed zone, the player delivered a scathing assessment of the referees’ performance:

“The refereeing was deplorable. It’s a real shame that we still have referees like that today in such an important competition. We work hard to represent our country, but when the decisions on the field are not fair, it destroys the whole spirit of soccer. We deserve better than that.”