The fallout from Mali’s 1-0 defeat to Algeria in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers continues to stir strong reactions, particularly regarding the officiating. Both players and fans have sharply criticized Cameroonian referee Alioum Néant for decisions they believe unfairly influenced the outcome.
Fousseni Diawara expressed his frustration in an emotional statement, insisting that Algeria didn’t need help from the referee to win, as they already have quality players. However, he believes the official “distorted” the result and “gave” Algeria the three points.
Nouha Dicko echoed the frustration, pointing to a “goal that should never have been awarded” and a “harsh red card,” though he was careful to still compliment Algeria as a country.
On social media, fans have been even more vocal. Video footage and screenshots are being shared to argue that Carl Medjani’s winning goal was scored from an offside position. The tone of some messages has escalated, with calls for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to intervene and accusations of repeated bias in matches involving Algeria, referencing Burkina Faso’s World Cup play-off loss in 2013.
This controversy highlights ongoing concerns about refereeing standards in African competitions and raises questions about VAR implementation and transparency in officiating across the continent.
