Nigerian legend Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has expressed his dissatisfaction with the hubbub created by the ongoing controversy following the World Cup qualifiers between Algeria and Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions secured a spectacular ticket to Qatar 2022 after ousting the North Africans on away goals with a 2-1 win after extra time at Blida on Tuesday. Algeria emerged as the favorites after picking up an excellent away win in Cameroon in the first leg. But Cameroon came alive on Tuesday at Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s 22nd-minute goal that forced the game into extra time. Then Cameroon finally beat Algeria to clinch their qualification. At the end of the match, Djamel Belmadi squarely attacked referee Gassama in a press conference. However, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) was unhappy with the result, especially regarding some refereeing decisions. An Algerian goal was scored for offside after the referee consulted VAR. The Algerian coach has received support from his Senegalese counterpart Aliou Cissé. “Djamel Belmadi often talks about it, I understand it because I live it, like other coaches,” the Senegalese technician told our colleagues from Le Monde. And to continue: “These refereeing problems have consequences on our level of play. (…) When we talk about refereeing errors, we are told to stop whining, but until we solve this problem . (…) I am told not to talk about it, for fear that all the referees will gang up on Senegal. But who will do it then? “.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi8LZh3LRwU
Ockocha reacted to the words of the two great African technicians. “A coach has no right to talk about a referee’s mistakes,” Okocha said in quotes obtained from I-Frii. “There is a structure capable of seeing better than us and of sanctioning. The VAR called out the referee, which means there is a fault. what are we talking about here? Where is the referee’s mistake? “We all watched that same game. We saw the offsides, the heads accompanied by the hands. Maradona called it the hand of God. Nowadays, VAR is the laser that punishes. Cameroon is qualified, that’s all! If we have to talk about refereeing errors, now is not the time. A country has just lost a game on the field; then suddenly, a coach comes to make it worse. Organize a symposium and a debate on everything that undermines African football. But not at the dawn of the competitions! “Real mistakes made on purpose await you at the World Cup in Qatar; where will you lodge your complaints? FIFA are unlikely to grant the Algerians’ demands, with Cameroon set to join Afcon winners Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal as Africa’s five representatives at the World Cup 2022.
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