The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has written a letter to CAF, the body in charge of African football, saying the referee made mistakes during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final match against Nigeria.
In the game, Nigeria’s Super Falcons came from behind to beat Morocco 3-2 and win their 10th WAFCON title. But Morocco is not happy with how the match was handled by the officials.
One big moment came in the 82nd minute. A Moroccan player kicked the ball, and it seemed to hit the hand of Nigeria’s Tosin Demehin inside the penalty box. The referee at first gave a penalty to Morocco, but after checking the video (VAR), she changed her mind and canceled it. This made Morocco’s coach and players very upset.
Morocco’s coach, Jorge Vilda, who won the Women’s World Cup with Spain in 2023, said after the game, “It was a small mistake, but it cost us the match.” He also said that his players got tired in the second half, which affected their performance.
The final took place at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Morocco played very well in the first half and scored two goals to lead 2-0. But Nigeria made a strong comeback after halftime. Goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini helped the Super Falcons turn the game around and win.
Nigeria’s coach, Justine Madugu, said the changes he made at halftime helped a lot. He also praised Morocco for playing well in the first half.
This is now the second time Morocco has hosted the WAFCON final and lost. No other host nation has ever lost two finals in a row.
In the third-place match, Ghana’s Black Queens beat South Africa on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
