‘He is making very wrong decisions’ - Osayi furious with Ghanaian referee’s officiating against Morocco

Nigeria's campaign came to an end after a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat, following a goalless draw through 120 minutes of play. 

The loss dashed the Super Eagles' ambitions of securing a fourth AFCON title, which would have been a significant achievement after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Super Eagles will compete for third place against Egypt on Saturday, following their recent defeat.

Speaking to the media after the match, the Birmingham City fullback did not hold back his frustration with the officiating, stating that numerous poor calls disrupted the game's rhythm.

"One thing I would say is that the referee was appalling," Osayi-Samuel declared. "I am not saying that’s the reason we lost. 

“He is making very wrong decisions and it is really painful that we have refs like that in big games like today. But, I wish Morocco all the best."

Despite the "painful" defeat, Osayi-Samuel commended Nigeria's defensive effort for holding firm against the host nation's attack. 

He also shared that both head coach Eric Chelle and officials from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had expressed their pride in the team's display in Rabat.

"Very painful to lose. I think we played very well. The back four was amazing. I am proud of the team," he said. 

"The manager came down and said he is proud of the team. The board members came down and said they are proud of the team."

Reflecting on the shootout, he added, "It is just really painful that we lost on penalties and penalties are just really about luck. It is a lottery and today we didn’t win that."

The Super Eagles will now prepare for the third-place playoff against Egypt, where they will compete for the bronze medal.