AFCON: Nigeria Don’t Need Referees’ Assistance to Defeat Any Team – Aïssa Mandi Speaks

Algeria defender Aïssa Mandi has dismissed claims that officiating played a role in his country’s elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following their defeat to Nigeria.

The experienced center-back made it clear that the Senegalese referee, Issa Sy, should not be blamed for Algeria’s loss to the Super Eagles, insisting that Nigeria deserved the victory based on performance alone.

Algeria crashed out of the AFCON tournament after failing to cope with a confident and well-organized Nigerian side. The match, which many expected to be evenly contested, turned into a difficult outing for the North African team as Nigeria asserted control from start to finish.

Despite Algeria’s efforts, they struggled to contain the Super Eagles, who displayed composure, tactical discipline, and attacking efficiency throughout the encounter.

Nigeria eventually sealed a 2–0 victory, with both goals arriving in the second half. Victor Osimhen opened the scoring before Akor Adams added the second to put the game beyond Algeria’s reach.

Following the match, sections of Algerian supporters and some football analysts suggested that the referee’s decisions were questionable and appeared to favor Nigeria. However, Mandi firmly rejected those accusations.

Speaking to journalists in the mixed zone after the game, the Algerian defender praised Nigeria’s quality and maturity, stating that the Super Eagles were more than capable of winning without any external influence.

“The Nigerian team doesn’t need this. They have a solid and very mature squad,” Mandi said.

He went on to acknowledge the depth of talent in the Nigerian team, emphasizing that their success at the tournament is rooted in quality rather than officiating.

“They have really good players, and that’s why they can perform well even without refereeing decisions,” he added.

According to Mandi, Nigeria’s consistency at the competition speaks for itself, as they have delivered strong performances since the opening stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.

With the victory over Algeria secured, Nigeria will now turn their attention to a highly anticipated semifinal clash against Morocco’s Atlas Lions. The Super Eagles are set to face the North African giants on Wednesday, January 14, with a place in the AFCON final at stake.