‘Offside rule validates referee’s decision to overrule Ajayi’s goal’

Some Nigerians have been asking questions on why Semi Ajayi’s first half strike against Cameroon was ruled out as being from an offside position when there was a Cameroonian player on the Indomitable Lions’ goal line. But the decision has been explained by IFAB rules governing the game, which says that a player is offside unless he is level or ahead of two players, not one, as is generally understood.

The major caveat is that the goalkeeper is usually the second player in consideration so most people do not notice that the rule mentions two players instead of one.

In the game against Cameroon, goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa was off his line and involved in play, making him the ‘last man’ for his team, not Oumar Gonzales, who was on the goal line.

Therefore, according to the laws of the game, the decision to rule out the Super Eagles’ opener was the right call. Ajayi and Victor Osimhen were positioned behind Ondoa and were adjudged to be obstructing the view of the player on the line, Gonzalez.

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