Riyad Mahrez, the captain of Algeria, expressed dissatisfaction with referee Issa Sy’s performance after their 2-0 loss to Nigeria in the AFCON quarter-finals this Saturday.
While acknowledging the defeat, Mahrez noted that the officiating left room for improvement.“I think the referee was not perfect, but that is not why we lost. We still have to mention it because it is football,” Mahrez stated.
He remained sportsmanlike regarding the Super Eagles’ performance, adding, “Today they are better; we have to shake their hands and be honest.”
The comments follow backlash from Algerian players and fans who felt a first-half penalty shout was unfairly ignored, leading to accusations of bias against the Senegalese official.