The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has moved to extinguish a diplomatic firestorm, categorically denying explosive rumours of a physical altercation with African football powerbroker Fouzi Lekjaa.

Social media has been awash with salacious claims of a "shouting match" and insults exchanged during a CAF Executive Committee meeting in Morocco. Gusau terms the reports as malicious fiction designed to sow discord between two of the continent's footballing giants.

No Beef in Rabat

The rumours alleged that tensions boiled over regarding the officiating of the Nigeria vs Morocco AFCON 2025 semi-final. Reports claimed Gusau confronted Lekjaa, the FRMF President and CAF Vice President, accusing him of influencing referees. "I really don't know where this report is coming from," a bewildered Gusau told reporters."Nigeria and Morocco have very cordial relationships. Personally, I have always had a good relationship with Mr. Lekjaa."

Gusau insisted that no such confrontation occurred, either in the boardroom or the corridors of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. He praised Morocco's hosting of the tournament, calling it "exceptionally well run" and distancing himself from any comments criticizing match officials.

• The Context: Nigeria and Morocco are currently key allies in CAF, with both nations eyeing future World Cup hosting bids. A rift would be politically disastrous.
• The Source: The rumours appear to have originated from Algerian media outlets, a detail that adds a layer of North African geopolitical rivalry to the mix.
• The Verdict: "There was no shouting match, neither were there any insults thrown," Gusau affirmed.

The bigger Picture

Football politics in Africa is often as contact-heavy as the game itself. With the CAF presidency election looming, every whisper is amplified. For now, the handshake between Abuja and Rabat holds firm. The Super Eagles may have their rivalries on the pitch, but in the boardroom, peace reigns—at least for the cameras.

The NFF chief's swift denial effectively kills the story, but it serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can travel in the digital age, threatening to derail even the strongest of alliances.