The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has petitioned the Confederation of African Football (CAF), alleging officiating errors during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, where Nigeria’s Super Falcons secured a 3-2 comeback victory.
According to Morocco [/b]World News, the FRMF’s complaint centers around a controversial incident that took place in the 82nd minute of the tightly contested match. At that moment, the referee had initially awarded a penalty to Morocco after a suspected handball by Nigerian defender Tosin Demehin inside the penalty box.
However, after a lengthy VAR review, the referee reversed the decision, choosing not to penalize Demehin, a move that sparked intense protests from the Moroccan technical team and coaching bench.
Morocco’s head coach, Jorge Vilda, who famously led Spain to World Cup victory in 2023, voiced his disappointment during the post-match interview. He described the overturned penalty as “a small detail that cost us the game,” while acknowledging that such moments can significantly influence outcomes in football.
Though Vilda is generally known for avoiding criticism of referees, he subtly suggested that the officiating contributed to Morocco’s defeat. He also noted that physical fatigue took a toll on his players in the second half, impacting their ability to maintain their lead.
The final, played at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, saw the home team, Atlas Lionesses, take early control of the match. Morocco surged to a 2-0 lead before halftime with clinical finishing and solid defensive organization.
However, Nigeria’s Super Falcons mounted a dramatic second-half comeback. Goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and super-substitute Jennifer Echegini completed the turnaround, sealing a 3-2 win and delivering Nigeria their record-extending 10th WAFCON title.
Nigeria’s head coach, Justine Madugu, praised his players for their resilience and credited tactical changes at halftime for sparking the turnaround. “The substitutions made a significant difference,” Madugu noted, while also acknowledging Morocco’s impressive first-half performance.
This latest heartbreak means that Morocco has now lost back-to-back WAFCON finals as host nation—an unfortunate record in the tournament’s history.
Meanwhile, in the tournament’s third-place playoff, Ghana’s Black Queens triumphed over South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation time, claiming the bronze medal.