Former Super Falcons forward, Desire Oparanozie, has voiced her frustration over the disallowed goal by Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory against Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The controversial decision came in the 83rd minute when Lookman, after a swift one-two exchange with Samuel Chukwueze, scored what appeared to be a well-executed goal.
However, Malawian referee Godfrey Philip Nkhakananga, following the advice of assistant referee Clemence Kanduku, ruled the goal offside, much to the disappointment of Nigerian fans. Minutes later, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru secured the winning goal for the Super Eagles, ensuring their victory in Uyo.
Reacting to the incident on X (formerly Twitter), Oparanozie described the decision as “poor officiating” and questioned why there was no Video Assistant Referee (VAR) available to review the play. She added, “There’s no dent on Lookman’s goal.”
Despite the disallowed goal, Nigeria secured the crucial win, but the controversy around officiating lingered, drawing further attention to the need for improved officiating standards in African football.
