AFCON Final Exploded into Chaos After 'Act of Simulation' - Ex-FIFA Chief

The AFCON 2025 final descended into chaos following a controversial "act of simulation" that ignited fury among players, fans, and pundits, according to a former FIFA chief. The high-stakes clash, mirroring the intense semifinal drama between Morocco and Nigeria, saw refereeing decisions push the tournament to the brink of disorder.[1][2]

In the semifinal precursor—a grueling 120-minute goalless draw in Rabat that Morocco won 4-2 on penalties—Nigerian stars Victor Osimhen and Bright Osayi-Samuel lambasted Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea's "appalling" officiating. A pivotal incident involved defender Calvin Bassey receiving a yellow card after Moroccan player Diaz allegedly simulated contact. Replays revealed Diaz pulling Bassey's shirt before clutching his face despite minimal touch, warranting a booking for simulation instead.[1]

Osayi-Samuel fumed: "The referee was appalling... making very, very wrong decisions." Osimhen echoed the sentiment, highlighting how contentious calls disrupted Nigeria's dominant play. Broader tournament complaints accused officials of favoring hosts Morocco, prompting coach Walid Regragui to defend his team publicly. Former Nigeria international Victor Anichebe called AFCON referees "ridiculous."[1]

Laryea faced swift backlash: Nigerian fans inundated his social media, forcing his Instagram shutdown. In a viral video at Accra airport, he dismissed bias claims, calling the semifinal the "toughest" match due to stakes, insisting he ignored social media noise amid Ghana-Nigeria rivalry concerns.[2]

The ex-FIFA chief, analyzing the final's explosion, pinpointed a blatant simulation as the trigger—echoing semifinal antics—that led to post-match brawls, red cards, and calls for refereeing overhaul. Morocco advanced to face Senegal in the final, with Nigeria settling for bronze, but the officiating scars lingered, fueling demands for VAR expansion and neutral arbiters in future AFCONs.[1][2][3]

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