Newscenter Media News 
Algeria center-back Aïssa Mandi has said that the Senegalese referee Issa Sy was not responsible for their loss to Nigeria on Saturday.
Algeria were knocked out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by the Super Eagles.
In what was expected to be a tough match, Algeria had a hard time stopping the Super Eagles.
The Super Eagles won comfortably by 2-0, with second half strikes from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.
Algerian fans and some pundits claimed that the referee was not fair, and seemed to favour Nigeria.
Mandi has said that the referee’s decisions did not affect his team’s 2-0 loss to Nigeria.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Mandi said, “The Nigerian team doesn’t need this. They have a solid team that is very mature
“They have really good players, and that’s why they can perform well even without refereeing decisions.
“They’ve shown that since the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Nigeria will face Morocco’s Atlas Lions on Wednesday, January 14, for a place in the final.
AFCON: ‘Nigeria don’t need referee’s help to beat any team’ – Algeria defender Mandi