By Elizabeth Godwin
A thrilling 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final in Rabat has ended in heartbreak for Morocco, whose national federation, claiming ‘they were robbed’ is now preparing an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over what it calls blatant officiating errors and a VAR controversy that overshadowed the spectacle.
The Atlas Lionesses, in pursuit of their first-ever continental title, saw a commanding 2-0 halftime lead vanish as Nigeria mounted a stunning comeback to secure a 3-2 victory and their record-extending 10th WAFCON crown.
The match was filled with drama, intensity, and moments of brilliance, but it is the officiating decisions that have ignited widespread anger across Morocco. Two key incidents involving VAR have been placed under a glaring spotlight, with the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) accusing officials of mishandling critical moments that may have changed the outcome of the final.
The first flashpoint came in the 63rd minute. With Morocco leading 2-0, a Nigerian cross struck the arm of defender Nouhaila Benzina in the penalty area. Initially waved away by Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa, VAR intervened and recommended a review. After viewing the footage, Twanyanyukwa reversed her decision and awarded a penalty to Nigeria. Esther Okoronkwo stepped up and converted, halving the deficit and swinging momentum decisively in favour of the Super Falcons.
Just minutes later, Nigeria equalized, and the game was thrown wide open. But the most contentious moment arrived in the 83rd minute. Moroccan forward Imane Saoud unleashed a shot that struck Nigerian defender Tosin Demehin’s arm inside the area. The referee initially pointed to the spot, but after a lengthy VAR review, she overturned her decision – ruling that the defender’s arm was in a natural position and close to her body.
The reversal sent shockwaves through the Moroccan bench and fans. Head coach Jorge Vilda, visibly frustrated, told ESPN after the match that the images shown to the referee differed from those seen by the broadcast audience. “She gave a penalty, then took it away after seeing a different angle. That’s what prevented us from celebrating today,” Vilda said. He also suggested the decision had a psychological impact on his players during a critical phase of the game.
The fallout has been immediate and intense. Social media has been flooded with slowed-down replays of the incident, while several Moroccan players, including star forward Ibtissam Jraïdi, posted the clip in protest. Hassan Boutabssil, Executive Director of state broadcaster Arryadia TV, was forced to deny accusations that Moroccan broadcasters manipulated VAR footage. He placed the blame squarely on CAF’s VAR team, accusing them of showing a misleading angle and delaying the review.
Ironically, Morocco benefited from a controversial VAR penalty earlier in the tournament, which helped them top Group A ahead of Senegal. But the FRMF insists the final’s decisions went beyond normal human error, calling for a thorough investigation.
CAF has yet to issue an official response, and while Nigeria’s title is unlikely to be affected, the controversy could have lasting repercussions – especially with Morocco set to host the 2025 AFCON and the 2026 WAFCON.
