Ziyech Criticizes Wydad-Maniema Referee: "You Give the Second Yellow Card to the Goalkeeper Then Act as if You Gave It to the Defender"
02 February 2026at13:49
Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech, a player for Wydad AC, criticized the referee of the Red Team's match against Congolese side Maniema Union, played in the fourth round of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
Ziyech posted a video clip of the referee during the match, commenting: "Welcome to Africa. You give the second yellow card to the goalkeeper, then you act as if you gave it to the defender. This is the level of referees."
It is worth noting that Ziyech missed the match, which Wydad AC lost 2-1, for precautionary reasons. The team currently leads Group B with 9 points.
Q&A
Why did Hakim Ziyech comment on the referee's decision despite missing the Wydad AC match?
Ziyech publicly criticized a controversial yellow card incident involving the goalkeeper and a defender, despite missing Wydad AC's 2-1 loss for precautionary reasons. His comments highlight concerns about refereeing standards in African football.
What was the result of the Wydad AC vs. Maniema Union match and its impact on their CAF Confederation Cup group standing?
Wydad AC lost 2-1 to Maniema Union in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Despite this defeat, Wydad AC currently maintains its lead in Group B with 9 points.
