The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing calls for answers after Morocco FA lodged an official protest over refereeing decisions during the final of the 2024 WAFCON, citing a clear injustice.
The match, in which Morocco faced Nigeria, saw Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa overturn a penalty decision awarded to the Atlas Lionesses after a VAR review.
Speaking to Moroccan sports radio station Radio Mars, Hassan Boutabssil, Executive Director at Arryadia TV, a national sports channel said, “The intention was clear, there was a deliberate delay, and in the end, they showed an angle that didn’t reveal anything. That reeks of bad faith.”
Boutabssil said the FRMF was right to protest, that Morocco was denied a clear penalty, the referee didn’t even make a mistake – the WAFCON final VAR team did.”
It all kicked off in the 63rd minute when Nigeria were handed a penalty after VAR reviewed Nouhaila Benzina handled the ball through replays which Esther Okoronkwo slotted home without fuss, causing the Moroccan fans to erupt in protest.
The disgruntled Moroccans claimed Oluwatosin Demehin equally handled the ball and the referee had no reason to have changed her mind, claiming the footage shown on the broadcast offered only limited angles, fuelling suspicions of foul play.
The controversy adds further pressure on CAF, as Morocco prepares to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
CAF has yet to comment publicly on the WAFCON incident.
“We were targeted,” Boutabssil concluded.
