Is Morocco favored by arbitration since the beginning of the CAN? Regraguis firm response to people who want to see us fall

The Maroc national football team defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the quarterfinals, securing a spot in the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite controversies surrounding the match officiating, coach Walid Regragui expressed his frustrations after the game.

Accusations of biased officiating in favor of Maroc did not sit well with Regragui. Following the victory against Cameroon, Regragui criticized the ongoing narrative about preferential treatment towards his team. “Since the beginning of the competition, we know where people want to take Maroc,” he lamented during a press conference.

“Many want to believe or make others believe that we have advantages regarding the referees. I have seen potential penalties that could have been awarded to us. I never talk about the officiating. When we were in Ivory Coast, there was a penalty not given to us against South Africa (in the round of 16 of the 2023 AFCON), and I was suspended for no reason.”

“Maroc’s only advantage is playing in front of 65,000 spectators”

A controversial moment arose when a penalty was not given to Cameroon on Friday. A questionable contact between Bryan Mbeumo and Adam Masina in the Moroccan penalty area during the second half was not penalized by the referee. “I felt the contact. And after the match, they showed me the images: it’s very clear,” Mbeumo remarked to beIN Sports.

Regragui dismissed the issue. “People want to believe that Maroc has advantages. That’s not the case, we win on the field. Our statistics are always better than others. We create more opportunities than our opponents. No goals have been taken away from Cameroon or any other team. It’s easy when someone wants to discredit us, they find reasons to say Maroc is favored. Our only advantage is playing in front of 65,000 spectators. Everything else is discussed on the field,” the Moroccan coach continued.

To conclude, “I believe Cameroon faced a better team. No one will talk about the referees. We deserve our victory. Playing on this field, I don’t think it’s fair play from those who want to see us fail. The best team will win this AFCON.” Maroc now awaits its opponent in the semifinals, which will be Nigeria or Algeria.

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