Morocco coach urges focus on football before Nigeria semi-final
Walid Regragui, head coach of Morocco, has called for less focus on refereeing controversies ahead of his team's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Nigeria. At a pre-match press conference, Regragui emphasized that constant debate over officiating distracts from the game and the efforts of players. He stated that he avoids criticizing referees and prefers to concentrate on preparation and performance. The coach also highlighted that such controversies are common worldwide, not just in African football.
Match highlights
- Walid Regragui defended African referees, urging all parties to focus on football rather than officiating debates.
- He mentioned that talking about refereeing damages the game and detracts from the work being done on the pitch.
- Regragui cited specific incidents involving his team, including a debated penalty against Tanzania and unpunished fouls in matches against Mali and Cameroon.
- He emphasized that similar refereeing controversies occur globally, not just in Africa.
- The coach encouraged journalists to prioritize match analysis over fueling disputes about referees.
