The Football Federation of Morocco (FRMF) has submitted an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), citing “refereeing injustices” during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Nigeria’s Super Falcons. According to Morocco World News, the FRMF complained that a clear penalty was overlooked by the center referee in the 82nd minute when the score was tied at 2-2. Video evidence indicated a possible handball by Super Falcons defender Tosin Demehin; however, after a VAR review, the referee did not uphold her initial decision. Both the Moroccan coaching staff and players voiced their disappointment right after the incident. The federation insisted that this ruling changed the match’s outcome, which the Super Falcons won 13-2. After the game, Moroccan head coach Jorge Vilda, who previously guided Spain to victory in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, remarked, “It was a small detail that cost us the game.” Vilda, who typically keeps quiet about officiating issues, mentioned that exhaustion was a significant factor in his team’s drop in performance during the second half. Additionally, it was reported that six Super Eagles players donated N24 million to the Super Falcons for WAFCON 2024. Nigeria’s coach, Justine Madugu, acknowledged Morocco’s strong performance in the first half and noted that his team’s tactical changes during the break helped turn the match around. He remarked, “The substitutes had a significant impact on the game.” Morocco holds a hopeful future. Super Falcons Achieve Remarkable Comeback Victory. At Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, the final match began with Morocco taking an early 2-0 lead by halftime. However, the Super Falcons returned for the second half with renewed vigor, led by goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and substitute Jennifer Echegini, reversing the score. The Atlas Lionesses set an unfortunate precedent as the first host team to lose two WAFCON finals in a row. With this victory, the Super Falcons secured their remarkable 10th WAFCON title. Meanwhile, Ghana’s Black Queens claimed third place by defeating the previous champions, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Africa’s elite teams are set to gather in Morocco for AFCON 2025. Morocco is set to host the men’s Africa Cup of Nations later this year, marking the second occasion the country has held this tournament. The first was in 1988, when Cameroon triumphed over Nigeria’s Super Eagles with a narrow 1-0 victory. Written by James Agberebi.
