President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has strongly denied reports suggesting he was involved in a heated confrontation with his Moroccan counterpart, Fouzi Lekjaa, following Nigeria’s defeat to Morocco.
The claims, which circulated widely on social media after the match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, alleged that Ibrahim Gusau clashed with the Moroccan FA president, who also serves as a vice-president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, the NFF boss has described the story as entirely untrue.
“I really don’t know where the report is coming from,” Gusau said in a statement released by NFF communications. “Nigeria and Morocco have very cordial relationships in football and even at the level of government. Personally, I have always had a good relationship with Mr Lekjaa.”
He insisted there was no confrontation of any kind, nor any exchange of words between himself and the president of the Morocco FA, stressing that the incident described simply never happened.
Gusau also rejected suggestions that he made remarks about the officiating before or after the match, a point at the centre of the rumoured disagreement.
“Before the match, I publicly made it known that the NFF was not apprehensive about the officiating,” he explained. “After the match, I made no comments whatsoever. I am totally bemused at where the reporter got his story that Mr Lekjaa and myself engaged in a shouting match because of my comments on the officiating.”
While the semi-final sparked debate among fans and players over refereeing decisions, the NFF president struck a calm and diplomatic note, choosing instead to commend the organisers of the competition.
“As far as the NFF is concerned, we only have praises for the Morocco Football Federation, the Local Organising Committee, the Government of Morocco and the Confederation of African Football for organising a very successful AFCON,” he said.
Gusau added that the tournament lived up to expectations as Africa’s flagship football event, noting that its spectacle, organisation and atmosphere would be remembered for many years.
