Egyptian referee Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour disallowed the 22nd minute goal of Ademola Lookman in Amahoro Stadium, Kigali in the 2025 AFCON qualifier against Wasps of Rwanda played last month.
Note that the referee is from Egypt and Lookman’s closest rival in the race for the Africa Player of The Year crown according to media speculations is a Moroccan, Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid. The Maghreb connection shouldn’t be ruled out.
Malawian-born referee Godfrey Philip Nkhakananga was in-charge of Super Eagles AFCON qualifier against Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Uyo on Friday.
On the advice of his compatriot assistant Clemence Kanduku, Nkhakananga ruled Lookman’s goal as offside. Sadly, there was no VAR to fact-check if both goals in Kigali and Uyo were bad calls or not. But the slow replays on the screen indicate that both goals were not off side particularly the one in Uyo
Indeed in succession Lookman’s has lost two goals in the ongoing AFCON qualifiers to referees calls.
This is one offside call too many. I hope it is not what I’m thinking. At this point one is forced to think wide and wild. Don’t blame me for conceiving such thoughts.
They come naturally given happenings around African football and the politics therein especially when it comes to issues like APOTY where Vikings come on regional and at time religious lines
You ask, What’s on my mind? Well, I hope some people in the continent aren’t using the referees to stop the rise of our son to the podium…to succeed his compatriot Victor Osimhen as Africa Player of The Year.
Certainly with his goals, there won’t be any obstacle hindering or stopping him. Perhaps the whole idea is to stop him from scoring goals thus, limiting his chances of becoming APOTY. Forgive my shallow and myopic reasoning. Pardon my Nigerian-induced sentiment.
Like I said, don’t blame me for thinking outside the box. This is Africa. This is our continent. We know how some of these things happen especially when the NFF isn’t thinking along this line or suspecting anything.
Sure, some countries will envy the return of Nigerian players in this hall of fame. Yes, it is a huge recognition for players of your country to win APOTY back to back. It will open up the market of players transfer and scouting for talents in the country for clubs, agents, scouts coming from Europe. The domestic players, clubs and even the Federation benefit just as the national team.
The last time we got here before Victor Osimhen emerged winner was in 1999 when Nwankwo Kanu won it a second time. Few African players like Samuel Eto’O has won it more than twice.
You never can tell, the race of Lookman to the podium to succeed Osimhen may be given some people headache. Like I pleaded forgive my ordinary and loose thoughts.
These referees must be careful and let our boy be….The NFF must be vigilant.
I am just thinking aloud…