Moroccan referee Noureddine El Jaafari has come under fire following his poor officiating in Zambia’s 2-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in a Matchday 3 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Thursday at Estadio de Malabo.
El Jaafari and his assistants left a sour taste and conjured bitter memories of Jean Diramba, the referee that cost Zambia against Morocco in a crucial USA 94 World Cup qualifier.
This Moroccan referee was determined to outdo his predecessor and was at from the first whistle! Seemingly deciding against the Chipolopolo on every occasion in the first 10 minutes.
In that time, Zambia gave away more than 6 fouls whilst only winning 1. ‘Diramba’ el Jaafari was quick to book Patson Daka in the 23rd minute for an innocuous challenge in the midfield area and that was just a warm up.
Two minutes later, he reached into his back pocket to send off Prince Mumba for what was at most a yellow card offense.
At this point, fans around the country had seen enough and lashed out at this poor officiating, some even calling for the Moroccan Diramba to be investigated by CAF, African football’s governing body.
El Jaafari saved his worst for when it hurt the most though. The first goal was conceded from a free kick given when the ball struck a Zambian player’s arm IN ITS NATURAL POSITION!!!
There was also a foul on Patson Daka which he waived play on despite the Leicester man being hacked at the edge of the opposition box.
For the second, even Diramba would have been proud. Noureddine el Jaafari blew his whistle for a foul, he then scurried over, yellow card in hand and called the offending Zambian to him. With the Zambians distracted, the Nzalang Nacional took the free kick quickly and scored from the cross, albeit at the second attempt as the brave Chibwe stopped the first shot. One wonders which rules the official used on that occasion.
To add insult to injury, the Moroccan referee then proceeded to card the Zambian defender Benedict Chepeshi for the initial challenge.
At this point, all who had been alive to witness the 93 debacle only had one name in mind, Diramba!
Does officials watch African referees and the they kill African football?
I mean CAF officials
Football politics. Being fixed for lying the UK duo would not be available for half vaccination. What happened then? Stop it.
That referee is very useless and pathetic
The Zambian players did more praying than playing. Seems the god of football ignored them, or the ref was stronger than god.
Even if the ref was fair we were still going to lose that game coz the display by our team was below par. Lets nnot hide in the ref’s mistakes.
Can CAF Please do something on the Moroccan Referee for this bad officiating of e Guenea vs Zambia, FIFA our game is now going to the dogs,even an armature in football can see that the referee was Biased he was for Genuea not fairness,where are we going?may he even did the BATING to Win Money
Jesus Christ have mercy on us – something about Morocco …. I think Diramba resurrected last night!!!
Thanks Zamfoot for saying it like it is …!!!!
Time to look or a better goal-keeper Chibwe was at fault for the first goal and was also fast asleep in a recent friendly in South Sudan when he chipped from the halfway line (almost) for goal.
Bring back Kennedy!
Chibwe likes punching/parrying balls and that is dangerous in a game of football. He should learn to get hold of the ball firmly. He shouldn’t be emulating Kotto of Belgium.
This guy surely must be banned from officiating such high level matches.he has a poor judgement and every decision he made,suggested he was on drugs.i wonder how he performs @ home.
That fool was representing Morocco as a Ref , he is hopeless and an embarrassment to watch
If I can be given a chance to officiate the game I can’t do what he did it was too much beyond the limit.
Yes, the Morroccan referee was pretty bad to say the least. In fact I almost broke my tv screen trying to hit him with the broom that my wife had left lying nearby when she rushed to the kitchen to check on what she was cooking.
But I must hasten to also say our boys’ performance was not up to date. Had the referee been fair that game would have ended 0-0.
Our boys only played good football during the return-leg at Heroes Stadium. That is the day Chambeshi and his bench came up with a good starting lineup. The MIDFIELD TICKED. If these guys had given us this kind of set up, we could have won all the matches that we have played.