Bryan Mbeumo openly criticised a refereeing decision following Cameroon’s quarter-final defeat to Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as the Indomitable Lions bowed out after a 2-0 loss.
The Manchester United forward expressed clear frustration over an incident he believes denied Cameroon a crucial penalty during the second half of the match.
Cameroon trailed after Morocco opened the scoring and controlled large periods of the contest.
Tension rose sharply in the 70th minute when Mbeumo went to ground after a collision with Moroccan defender Adam Masina inside the penalty area.
The referee waved play on, refusing to award a spot kick, a decision that immediately angered Cameroonian players and staff.
Mbeumo reacted strongly after the match, insisting that the contact justified a penalty. He explained that he felt the challenge clearly during the action and later reviewed the footage to confirm his impression.
“During the match, I felt the contact,” Mbeumo said. “I reviewed the footage, and the penalty looks very, very clear to me. I don’t know what else to say.”
The Cameroonian forward stopped short of claiming the decision alone decided the match but admitted that the moment left lasting frustration within the squad.
“I don’t know if the match depended entirely on that situation,” he added, “but we can carry regrets that go beyond it.”
Mbeumo also reflected on Cameroon’s performance after the break. He acknowledged that the team improved during the second half and managed to impose more control, despite Morocco’s overall dominance.
However, he stressed that the disputed decision represented a turning point in a match where fine margins mattered.
The striker adopted a resigned tone when addressing the broader context of refereeing decisions at major tournaments.
“It’s part of the game, and we knew what to expect,” he said.
Morocco went on to confirm their qualification for the semi-finals, maintaining composure and capitalising on their chances. Cameroon, by contrast, exited the competition with a sense of unfinished business and lingering disappointment.
The penalty debate now adds to the list of talking points surrounding Cameroon’s AFCON campaign.
While the Indomitable Lions showed resilience and moments of quality, the controversial incident against Morocco will continue to dominate post-tournament discussions among players and supporters.
As Morocco prepares for the next stage of the competition, Cameroon returns home reflecting on what might have been, with Mbeumo’s words capturing the frustration felt throughout the squad.
