The Super Eagles of Nigeria were held to a 0-0 draw by the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
Augustine Eguavoen’s side dominated the match and could have secured an easy victory, recording 20 shots and creating three significant chances, including a first-half effort by Victor Boniface that struck the crossbar.
However, Nigerian football fans were left questioning the match officials' competence after Ademola Lookman’s 23rd-minute goal was controversially disallowed.
Ademola Lookman's disallowed goal: How it happened
Lookman’s disallowed goal occurred during a long throw-in for the Super Eagles near the Rwandan penalty area.
Following a throw-in by Ola Aina, a Rwandan defender attempted to clear the ball but was outmaneuvered by Semi Ajayi.
Ajayi flicked the ball backward to the onrushing Lookman, who headed it into the net, igniting celebrations among the Nigerian fans in attendance.
The referee's verdict
After Ademola Lookman’s header found the back of the net, Moroccan referee Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour signaled an infringement and ruled the goal out, awarding a foul to the hosts.
This decision caused considerable dismay among football fans and has since sparked extensive debate online as to what infraction the referee had spotten to warrant the annulment, continuing to be a topic of discussion hours after the match concluded.
However, analysis of the referee's hand gesture – one hand up, the other pointing forward with fingers tracing a line across his body – indicates that the goal was disallowed for offside.
Why the referee's decision was wrong
The referee's decision to disallow Ademola Lookman's goal was incorrect based on the FIFA Laws of the Game.
According to Law 11, a player cannot be penalised for offside when receiving the ball directly from a throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick. In this instance, Ajayi's flick-on header followed a long throw-in by Aina, which means he should not have been deemed offside.
The goal should have stood, and the subsequent awarding of a foul to the hosts was a misapplication of the rules, leading to considerable controversy and debate among fans and analysts.
