Penalty Debate Heats Up AFCON: Algeria vs Nigeria Under the Spotlight
10 January 2026
Gonzalez weighs in on Algeria–Nigeria officiating debate
Spanish refereeing expert Itoralde Gonzalez shared his view on the controversial officiating in the Algeria vs Nigeria AFCON quarterfinal clash.
In the 13th minute, Algerian players appealed for a penalty after a cross by Chaibi struck Nigerian defender Simi Ajayi's hand; the referee allowed play to continue and VAR was not consulted at that moment.
Gonzalez told Kooora, "In my view, it was a clear penalty. His arm occupied space and made him look bigger, and there was a slight movement of the arm toward the ball." He added, "VAR should have assisted on this call."
The match remains ongoing, with Nigeria holding a 2-0 lead.
Punchline: If penalties were precision rifles, this one would have hit the target—right at the whistle.
Punchline: VAR arrives like a stealthy comedian—crowd waits, whistle rings, and the ending remains in suspense.
