Morocco Demands Referee Suspension After Controversial Call in WAFCON Final
Morocco's Football Federation (FRMF) has officially lodged a protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), following a controversial refereeing decision during the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The dramatic match, which saw Nigeria rally from two goals down to beat Morocco 3-2, was marred by a contentious moment in the 82nd minute when Morocco was initially awarded a penalty.
Replays appeared to show a Nigerian defender handling the ball, but after a VAR review, the referee reversed the decision—sparking outrage among Moroccan fans and officials who felt justice had been denied.
Morocco’s head coach, Jorge Vilda, did not hold back in his post-match remarks, saying the overturned penalty was a “decisive moment” that broke the team’s spirit. The FRMF is now calling for the suspension of the referee, Antsino Twanyanyukwa, over what they describe as a “crucial error” that changed the course of the match.
Emotions ran high during the medal ceremony, with FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa reportedly clashing with FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the issue. As CAF reviews the complaint, fans across the continent are closely watching how the football body responds to what many believe was an officiating blunder on one of African women’s football’s biggest stages.
