Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has played down suggestions of any undue advantage for the host nation ahead of their AFCON 2025 semi-final clash against Nigeria, insisting that home support is the only benefit his side will enjoy.
Speaking at a tense pre-match press conference on Monday, Regragui firmly dismissed claims that refereeing decisions have favoured Morocco during the tournament.
The debate intensified following the Atlas Lions’ controversial 2-0 quarter-final victory over Cameroon, a match in which the Indomitable Lions felt they were denied clear penalty appeals.
Unmoved by the criticism, Regragui defended his team’s performances and made it clear that Morocco’s progress has been earned on merit rather than officiating assistance.
“As the team to beat, people will try to find all sorts of reasons to say Morocco has an advantage,” Regragui told reporters.
“The only advantage Morocco has is playing in front of 65,000 spectators. The rest is decided on the field.”
He added that the statistics back up his side’s dominance at the tournament.
“We create more chances than our opponents, and no goals were wrongly disallowed. Some people just look for excuses,” the Moroccan coach said.
Morocco enter the semi-final on the back of a remarkable 25-match unbeaten run, a world-record streak that dates back to their surprise elimination by South Africa at the 2023 AFCON.
However, Regragui acknowledged the scale of the challenge awaiting his team, with Nigeria’s Super Eagles emerging as one of the tournament’s most formidable sides under coach Eric Chelle.
Nigeria’s blend of attacking firepower and defensive discipline is expected to provide Morocco with their toughest test yet as both teams chase a place in the final.
