The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has received a formal complaint from Morocco’s Football Federation (FRMF) on what it called “refereeing injustices” during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final versus Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
Morocco also filed another petition to CAF questioning the eligibility of two players who played for the Nigeria side in the tournament.
Before the final game, the host nation lodged a protest on the eligibility of Ashleigh Plumptre and Michelle Alozie. Both players were born outside Nigeria but made the decision to play for Nigeria at senior level.
In their protest, Morocco said the manner of their switch of nationality is faulty citing some irregularities in their claims to be Nigerians. They expressly want Nigeria to lose the title by virtue of fielding both players in the tournament.
Plumptre was granted approval by FIFA to play for Nigeria in 2021 after it was established that her paternal grandfather is a Nigerian. Alozie’s case is more straightforward as she was born in the USA to immigrant parents from Nigeria.
Nigeria is however not losing sleep over the protest with a top member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) terming it as dead on arrival.
The score was level at 2-2 when the centre referee, according to FRMF, failed to award a “clear” penalty in the 82nd minute, according to Morocco World News.
Super Falcons defender Tosin Demehin appeared to have been handballed on video, but the referee rejected her first ruling following a VAR review.
Following the incident, Morocco’s players and coaching staff instantly voiced their dissatisfaction.
The Super Falcons won 3-2, but the federation said the ruling changed the outcome of the game.
“It was a small detail that cost us the game,” Moroccan head coach Jorge Vilda, who guided Spain to victory in the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup, remarked following the game.
Vilda, who is typically quiet about refereeing issues, adding that his team’s second-half collapse was largely caused by exhaustion. In contrast, Nigeria’s coach, Justine Madugu, praised Morocco for their strong first-half performance and noted that tactical adjustments at half-time changed the game’s trajectory in favour of his side.
The substitutions made a significant difference,” he stated. “Morocco have a bright future ahead.”
The final, held at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, saw Morocco establish a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half. However, the Super Falcons emerged revitalised in the second half, with goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and substitute Jennifer Echegini turning the tide.
With this defeat, the Atlas Lionesses marked an unfortunate milestone as the first hosts to lose consecutive WAFCON finals. The victory secured a record-extending 10th WAFCON title for the Super Falcons.
In the third-place play-off, the Black Queens of Ghana emerged victorious, defeating former champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time.