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AFCON 2025: How Referee Controversies Shaped The Quarter-Final Results

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 was never short on drama — and perhaps it will be remembered just as much for its refereeing controversies as for the football on the pitch. The quarter-finals, in particular, became a flashpoint for questions about officiating standards, VAR usage, referee appointments and the very credibility of continental football governance. From Nigeria vs Algeria to Cameroon vs Morocco, and controversies in Mali vs Senegal, the referees were thrust into the spotlight — often for all the wrong reasons. The debates that followed didn’t just revolve around isolated decisions; they struck at the heart of how fairness, transparency and even respect are perceived in African football. Quarter-Final Showdowns and the Sparks of Dispute Nigeria vs Algeria (2–0): A Penalty That Never Came Match result: Nigeria defeated Algeria 2–0 to reach the AFCON semi-finals. Yet, the focus after this match wasn’t only on the football. It was on the refereeing narrative that domina...
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A young Real Madrid player is expected to play a bigger part in future games.


Following Real Madrid's devastating 2–5 loss to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, Carlo Ancelotti has been the target of a lot of criticism.

The Real Madrid manager's choice to start Aurelien Tchouameni at center back instead of Raul Asencio is one of the main criticisms leveled at him.

The Frenchman has had some success at center back, but Sunday's match ended badly as the Barça onslaught completely destroyed the player.

Raul Asencio will become more well-known.


Raul Asencio is expected to play a larger role in the starting lineup in the upcoming games, according to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, despite the mounting worries about Real Madrid's defensive shortcomings.

Every time manager Ancelotti has given the 21-year-old La Fabrica graduate a chance, he has performed admirably.

However, club sources maintain that it was always going to be tough for him to start against Barcelona last Saturday because Los Blancos had maintained a clean sheet against RCD Mallorca in the semi-final.

However, after the final disaster against Barcelona, a change is now considered necessary, and Asencio will be given a bigger position in the team as a reward for his performance.

Real Madrid has no intention of acquiring a new center-back this month, and Ancelotti must begin to have greater faith in the 21-year-old young player given Antonio Rudiger's knee issues.

The defending Spanish and European champions will also benefit from David Alaba's impending return, as the Austrian is anticipated to be reincorporated into the match dynamics starting this week.
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