Nigeria crashed out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a painful semi-final defeat to Morocco, and Bright Osayi-Samuel voiced his anger as frustration spilled over following the final whistle.
The Super Eagles lost to the host nation in a tense encounter that ended level after extra time before Morocco advanced on penalties.
While disappointment surrounded the missed chance to reach the final, the refereeing decisions dominated the post-match discussion inside the Nigerian camp.
Osayi-Samuel, one of Nigeria’s most vocal figures after the match, openly criticised the match officials.
Speaking in the mixed zone, the defender described the officiating as unacceptable for a competition of such magnitude and argued that poor decisions disrupted the rhythm and fairness of the contest.
“The refereeing was deplorable,” Osayi-Samuel said. “It’s a real shame that we still have referees like that today in such an important competition.
We work hard to represent our country, but when the decisions on the pitch aren’t fair, it destroys the whole spirit of football. We deserve better than that.”
Nigeria entered the semi-final with strong belief after an impressive run through the tournament.
The team showed discipline, energy, and tactical balance, qualities that carried them deep into the competition.
Against Morocco, the Super Eagles battled through 120 demanding minutes, matching the hosts physically and tactically before the contest reached penalties.
Osayi-Samuel stressed that avoidable refereeing errors shaped key moments of the match.
He pointed to frequent stoppages and decisions that broke Nigeria’s momentum and heightened tension on the pitch.
According to the defender, those moments prevented the players from expressing themselves freely in a match that demanded control and clarity.
The defeat hit hard for a squad that targeted a return to the AFCON final. Nigeria last lifted the trophy in 2013 and arrived in Morocco determined to challenge for continental honours once again.
Instead, the Super Eagles now face the reality of elimination at the semi-final stage.
Despite the anger, Osayi-Samuel’s comments reflected a deeper frustration rather than a lack of effort.
He emphasised the sacrifices players make to compete at international level and called for higher standards of officiating to protect the integrity of the tournament.
Nigeria will now turn attention to recovery and reflection after another AFCON campaign that promised much but ended in disappointment.
For Osayi-Samuel and his teammates, the pain of elimination remains sharp, intensified by the belief that the contest deserved stronger officiating on African football’s biggest stage.
