Nigeria Wins Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 3-2
Nigeria claimed a 3-2 victory in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
However, the aftermath of the match has been overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions, prompting the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to lodge an official complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Two key moments drew widespread attention: a penalty awarded to Nigeria in the 63rd minute, and the decision not to penalize a clear handball by Nigerian defender Tosin Demehin in the 83rd minute.
HEAD COACH VOICES STRONG REACTION
Morocco’s head coach Jorge Vilda strongly criticized the refereeing decisions.
Speaking to ESPN about the incident, he stated:
“We don’t understand the referee’s decision. The footage showed something different. There was a handball, but the referee took it away from us. We weren’t allowed to celebrate,” he said.
He added that the overturned penalty had a deep psychological impact on the players, making it even harder to turn the game around.
MOROCCO ALSO BENEFITED FROM REFEREEING ERROR EARLIER
As anger grew on social media, many Moroccan players shared footage of the controversial moments on their personal accounts.
However, Morocco had previously benefited from a questionable VAR decision in the group stage against Senegal. A debatable penalty helped them win the match and finish top of the group.
Despite this, the FRMF is still demanding a thorough investigation. CAF has yet to release an official statement, and the tournament result will not change. However, the controversy may continue to escalate.