The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has lodged an official complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), citing alleged “refereeing injustices” during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
According to Morocco World News, the FRMF protested a controversial 82nd-minute handball incident involving Nigeria’s Tosin Demehin. While the centre referee initially awarded a penalty, it was overturned after a VAR review, prompting outrage from Morocco’s bench and players.
The FRMF argued that the decision significantly affected the outcome of the tightly contested match, which ended 3-2 in favour of the Super Falcons.
Morocco’s head coach, Jorge Vilda, who led Spain to the 2023 Women’s World Cup title, called the moment “a small detail that cost us the game”, adding that fatigue also played a role in his side’s second-half decline.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s coach, Justine Madugu, credited halftime tactical changes and impactful substitutions for the turnaround. “Morocco had a brilliant first half, but the changes we made shifted the momentum”, he said.
The final, held at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, saw Morocco take a 2-0 lead before Nigeria roared back with goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and substitute Jennifer Echegini to seal the comeback victory.
