Do2dtun Blames Refereeing for Nigeria’s AFCON 2026 Semi-Final Loss to Morocco

January 15, 2026

Nigerian media personality Kayode Ojuolape, popularly known as Do2dtun, has expressed his disappointment and frustration following Nigeria’s elimination from the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles exited the tournament after a tense 4–2 loss to host nation Morocco in a penalty shootout, following a tightly contested 120-minute match in Rabat.

While much of the focus has been on the team’s on-field performance, Do2dtun highlighted officiating as a key factor that affected Nigeria’s morale. He specifically criticized Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea, whose decisions drew widespread backlash from Nigerian fans. Many supporters alleged that the officiating was biased, possibly influenced by Morocco’s home advantage or historic rivalries between Nigeria and Ghana.

On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Do2dtun wrote passionately about the impact of poor refereeing on the team’s performance:

“Let me also say this; bad officiating depletes performance… your excuse whether they played with less shot on goals or nothing at all; bad officiating kills the morale of a team. They played against everything.”

He emphasized that the Super Eagles were not just competing against Morocco on the pitch but were also dealing with hidden challenges that undermined their focus and confidence during critical moments of the game.

Fans responded quickly to Do2dtun’s commentary, many agreeing that officiating decisions had a significant effect on Nigeria’s performance:

@chizoba_osuji: “Honestly..the officiating was very terrible…or is there any word more than terrible… Kai..he just killed the morale of the players.”
@devilishGaventa: “For those of us that are not new to these tournaments, we know there is always preferential treatment for the host team, especially at this stage. It’s expected.”
@Iamkehinderusty: “If you’ve never played football at any level, you won’t understand how bad officiating can ruin your morale as a player when every decision goes against you.”
@derekajibola: “The Super Eagles were very defensive yesterday. Eric Chelle was smart, but I wish he switched things up more in the second half. On a neutral ground, we could have beaten Morocco.”
@headofstates_: “IT FRUSTRATES THE TEAM! Especially for those of us with less experienced players.”
@obaroddy: “Let’s admit officiating was bad, but Nigeria was lucky Morocco didn’t score in open play. In the end, our boys couldn’t convert penalties and lost. Referee aside, that’s the reality.”

Do2dtun’s comments underscore a broader national debate over refereeing standards in African football and the challenges teams face when host nations are involved. His remarks reflect the frustrations of many Nigerian fans, who believe that officiating can significantly influence outcomes in high-stakes matches, affecting not just results but player confidence and national pride.