Morocco Lodges Official Complaint Over Refereeing In WAFCON Final Loss To Nigeria
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has filed an official protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), citing alleged refereeing errors during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
According to Morocco World News, the FRMF’s complaint centers on a controversial incident in the 82nd minute of the match, with the score tied at 2-2. The Moroccan side claimed the referee failed to award a “clear” penalty following a suspected handball by Nigerian defender Tosin Demehin. While the referee initially pointed to the spot, the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
The reversal drew visible frustration from Morocco’s coaching staff and players, with the FRMF arguing that the call significantly influenced the final outcome. Nigeria went on to secure a 3-2 victory, claiming their 10th WAFCON title—a record in the tournament’s history.
Morocco’s head coach, Jorge Vilda—who previously guided Spain to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup title—reflected on the controversial moment after the match. “It was a small detail that cost us the game,” he said, also noting that fatigue played a role in his team’s second-half struggles.
On the other side, Nigeria’s head coach, Justine Madugu, acknowledged Morocco’s strong opening performance and credited his team’s second-half comeback to key tactical changes. “The substitutions made a significant difference,” he said. “Morocco have a bright future ahead.”
The final, held at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, saw Morocco take an early 2-0 lead. However, a resurgent Nigerian side scored three unanswered goals in the second half through Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and substitute Jennifer Echegini.
The loss marked a historic disappointment for the Atlas Lionesses, who became the first host nation to lose back-to-back WAFCON finals.
In the third-place playoff, Ghana’s Black Queens defeated South Africa’s Banyana Banyana on penalties, following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
