Nigeria football star Asisat Oshoala has launched a blistering critique of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), questioning what she perceives as excessive favoritism towards Morocco in hosting tournaments and winning awards, following the Super Eagles’ controversial semi-final exit.
The six-time African Women’s Player of the Year took to social media in the wake of Morocco’s penalty shootout victory over Nigeria in the AFCON 2025 semi-final, a match marred by contentious officiating that has sparked outrage among Nigerian fans and officials.
“The big question here is when will this whole @CAF_Online compensation to Morocco end. Awards, tournaments n all……it’s getting boring now. We need other countries to step up. Everything concerning African football happens in Morocco, feels like that’s the new HQ”, Oshoala tweeted.
Oshoala’s frustration appears to be a direct response to the events of Wednesday night, where the Nigerian men’s team, the Super Eagles, were eliminated by the host nation. The match, which ended 0-0 after extra time before Morocco triumphed 4-2 on penalties, was dominated by controversy surrounding the performance of Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea.
Laryea’s officiating was widely adjudged by Nigerian pundits and fans to be poor and biased, characterized by what many saw as inconsistent foul calls, a lopsided free-kick count, and harsh, unnecessary bookings against Nigerian players. Defender Calvin Bassey received a yellow card that rules him out of the third-place playoff, a decision deemed particularly soft.
The outcry has been swift, with #CAFBiased and the name of the referee trending in Nigeria, and many calling for an investigation into the officiating. Oshoala, a former reigning African champion who led the Super Falcons to victory over hosts Morocco in the 2025 Women’s AFCON final, has now channeled this widespread grievance into a broader accusation of systemic bias.
CAF has yet to respond to Oshoala’s allegations or the specific complaints about the semi-final officiating. The body now faces mounting pressure to address perceptions of bias as it prepares for a final between Morocco and Senegal that will be watched under an intense new spotlight.
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