Morocco Coach Denounces Referee Bias Claims at AFCON Semifinals. Rabat, Morocco — January 10, 2026 LEAD PARAGRAPH: Morocco coach Walid Regragui has dismissed accusations of favorable refereeing decisions at the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stating that his team’s performance speaks for itself. Following their 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the quarterfinals, Regragui rebuked suggestions that his team is benefiting from biased officiating, emphasizing the importance of on-field performance over perceived advantages.
Regragui’s comments came in the wake of a match where Cameroon may have been awarded two penalties against Morocco.
The experienced referee, Dahane Beida, who officiated the final at the previous edition, was also accused of not showing Morocco defender Bilal El Khannouss a second yellow card, which could have resulted in his dismissal. Despite these incidents, Regragui maintained that the only advantage Morocco possesses is the support of their home crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The Morocco coach also referenced previous games where his team’s penalty claims against Mali and Tanzania were rejected, as well as a situation in the draw against Mali where a VAR check led to a penalty being awarded. He pointed out that no goals were disallowed for Cameroon or any other team, suggesting that the accusations of bias are unfounded. Regragui’s stance is supported by the fact that Morocco has reached the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations and was a semi-finalist in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Atlas Lions are considered among the favorites to win the tournament, having become the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals.
As Morocco prepares to face either Nigeria or Algeria in the semifinals, Regragui’s team continues to be a force to reckon with. With the final set to take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 18, the Moroccan coach remains focused on the field, emphasizing that the best team will ultimately win the tournament.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
