Bright Osayi-Samuel has voiced his disappointment over Nigeria’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals, pointing to unsatisfactory officiating after their penalty shootout defeat against Morocco.
The comments came in the wake of Nigeria’s 4–2 loss on penalties after a goalless match that extended into 120 minutes at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, ending Nigeria's unbeaten streak in the tournament.
In a post-match interview, Osayi-Samuel acknowledged the team's overall performance but expressed deep frustration with the result.
"It's painful, very painful to lose. I think we played excellently, and our defense was outstanding; I'm proud of the team," he remarked.
The player noted that, in spite of the loss, there was a show of support from the coaching staff and officials.
"The manager told us he was proud of our effort, and board members came to express their pride in the team. It’s just incredibly upsetting that we failed to convert some penalties..."
Nevertheless, the defender from Birmingham City raised concerns regarding the officiating, though he refrained from placing complete blame on it for Nigeria’s loss.
"What I can say is that the referee's performance was appalling—not that this is the sole reason for our defeat, but there were many incorrect decisions made, which is really disappointing to see in such an important match."
Despite his disappointment, the Nigerian international extended his best wishes to Morocco, the tournament's host.
"But I wish Morocco all the best."
Morocco progressed to the final after successfully converting four penalties against Nigeria's two, setting up a confrontation with Senegal. The Atlas Lions aim to secure their first AFCON title since 1976, while Nigeria's pursuit of a fourth continental championship ends in the semi-finals.
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