Morocco Lodges Official Complaint to CAF After WAFCON Final Loss to Nigeria
The Moroccan Royal Football Federation (FRMF) has formally lodged a complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), citing alleged “refereeing injustices” during the dramatic final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which ended in a 3-2 victory for Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
The high-stakes final, played at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, was filled with emotion, controversy, and a remarkable comeback by the Super Falcons, who extended their record with a tenth WAFCON title.
However, the FRMF believes the result was significantly influenced by a contentious refereeing decision in the final minutes of regular time.
The FRMF’s complaint centers on a pivotal moment in the 82nd minute when the score was tied at 2-2.
Moroccan players and coaching staff appealed passionately for a penalty after a potential handball by Nigerian defender Tosin Demehin inside the box. Referee Marie-Laure Ndong of Gabon initially pointed to the spot, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned a call that sparked outrage on the Moroccan bench and disbelief among home fans.
The Moroccan federation insists the reversal had a direct impact on the outcome of the match. “We believe the video assistant referee made a critical error that changed the momentum of the game and deprived our team of a fair chance to win,” an FRMF statement read.
Morocco’s head coach Jorge vilda who led Spain to a FIFA Women’s World Cup victory in 2023 voiced his frustration after the final whistle. “It was a small detail that cost us the game,” said Vilda. “We played a brilliant first half, but fatigue and some questionable decisions hurt us late in the match.”
On the other side, Nigerian coach Justine Madugu praised Morocco’s early performance but said his team’s second-half transformation was key. “The players who came off the bench made the difference,” Madugu said. “Morocco has a promising future, and they pushed us to our limits.”
Morocco came out firing in front of a raucous home crowd, surging to a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from captain Ghizlane Chebbak and Salma Amani. But the Super Falcons responded with trademark resilience in the second half.
Esther Okoronkwo halved the deficit just five minutes after the break, followed by a powerful equalizer from Folashade Ijamilusi in the 70th minute. Jennifer Echegini, coming off the bench, completed the comeback with a dramatic winner in the 87th minute, sending Nigerian fans into celebration.
With the win, Nigeria cements its status as the dominant force in African women’s football, clinching its 10th WAFCON title. For Morocco, it was heartbreak for the second consecutive final as hosts, having also lost in the 2022 edition.
In the third-place match, Ghana’s Black Queens edged out South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a tense penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The result marked Ghana’s return to the WAFCON podium after a decade-long absence.
Despite the disappointment, Morocco will turn its focus to hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for men, set to kick off in January.
It will be the first time since 1988 that the North African nation hosts the tournament, where Cameroon famously defeated Nigeria 1-0 in the final.
As CAF reviews Morocco’s complaint and prepares for its next flagship event, the aftermath of the 2024 WAFCON final is likely to fuel ongoing debates about VAR, officiating standards, and the growing competitiveness of women’s football on the continent.
