Details of the Controversial Incidents
Analysts pointed to several key controversial moments:
Failure to award a clear penalty to the Cameroon national team.
Failure to utilize the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to review crucial moments.
Instances of elbowing offenses against Cameroonian players without issuing yellow cards to the Moroccan players involved.
Reaction from Analysts
Grégory Schneider, an analyst for French channel L'Équipe, was among the most vocal critics, stating: "What would be good is to save some time and give Morocco the cup directly, and to stop treating ourselves like stupid spectators."
Schneider added: "We must stop insulting football, and stop insulting the players, because they are ultimately the primary victims of what is happening. What I saw this evening is absolutely unbelievable and unacceptable in a match at this level."
Questions About Officiating Impartiality
Many observers noted that the actions of Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida appeared "bothered" and "unnatural," raising questions about the impartiality of the officiating crew in this crucial AFCON match.
Performance of Cameroon and Morocco
On another note, and aside from the refereeing controversy, the performance of the Cameroonian team raised questions due to the naive defensive mistakes made by its players, their modest reaction during many periods of the match, and their lack of forceful protest against the referee's decisions in critical moments.
Concerns of Favoritism for the Host Nation
As matches progress in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, many followers believe that refereeing and administrative events are directly or indirectly favoring the Moroccan team, fueling concerns that the tournament is being steered towards the host nation.
This controversy highlights the challenges facing African football regarding the integrity and transparency of officiating, especially in a major tournament like the Africa Cup of Nations watched by millions worldwide.
, penalty, match officials.