Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo and former Nigeria international Desire Oparanozie have expressed their frustration with CAF officials for disallowing Ademola Lookman’s goal against Libya on Friday, according to Soccernet.ng.
Nigeria secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Libya’s Mediterranean Knights at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scoring a late winner for the Super Eagles.
In the 83rd minute, Lookman believed he had given Nigeria the lead with a well-executed strike after a one-two exchange with AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze, slotting the ball past Libya’s goalkeeper Murad Al Wuheeshi. However, controversial Malawian referee Godfrey Philip Nkhakananga, following the advice of his assistant Clemence Kanduku, wrongly ruled the goal offside.
The decision surprised former Super Falcons striker Oparanozie, who questioned why a goal without any obstruction would be disallowed. “No VAR in Uyo? There’s no dent on Lookman’s goal,” Oparanozie wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Poor officiating,” she concluded shortly after.
Kenneth Omeruo, a standout in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, also criticized the officiating, urging CAF to implement VAR for the qualifiers. “CAF do better. Make VAR available. Lookman’s goal just got canceled,” Omeruo complained.
It’s worth noting that Lookman had a legitimate goal wrongly disallowed in Nigeria’s goalless draw with Rwanda in Kigali last month. The Atalanta forward, who has been backed for the Ballon d’Or by Italian manager Gian Piero Gasperini, has scored two goals in three Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches for Nigeria.