Nigeria’s Super Falcons lifted their tenth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Morocco. But the result has caused anger in the North African country.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation is preparing a formal protest to the Confederation of African Football. They claim poor refereeing and unfair use of VAR cost them the trophy.
Morocco took a 2-0 lead before halftime. Their fans believed history was within reach. But Nigeria fought back with two quick goals, including a penalty that came after a VAR check.
The turning point came late in the game. Morocco thought they had earned a penalty when the ball hit Nigerian defender Tosin Demehin’s arm. The referee first agreed, then changed the call after another VAR review.
Morocco’s head coach Jorge Vilda was furious. He said the video shown to the referee was different from what others saw. He believed the decision crushed his players’ spirit.
Why Morocco Fans Are Protesting
Fans and players across Morocco shared clips online, calling the incident a “VAR scandal.” Star player Ibtissam Jraïdi joined the protest by posting the footage on social media.
After the final whistle, FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa reportedly confronted the referee. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had to step in to calm things down.
Even Morocco’s top sports TV officials defended their side, denying claims of hidden footage but blaming CAF for poor video angles and delays.
Interestingly, Morocco had earlier benefited from a soft penalty in the group stage. Still, they believe what happened in the final went beyond human error.
As of now, CAF has not responded. Nigeria keeps the title, but with Morocco hosting future tournaments, tensions could rise again.
