WAFCON 2024: CAF Sacks Referees Boss After Morocco FA Protest Nigeria's Victory

WAFCON 2024: CAF Sacks Referees Boss After Morocco FA Protest Nigeria's Victory

  • CAF has sacked its director of refereeing after the Moroccan FA protested “critical officiating errors” in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final
  • The Super Falcons of Nigeria came from two goals down to defeat the Atlas Lionesses 3-2 right there in Rabat
  • Controversy arose over a denied penalty for Morocco and a “soft” penalty awarded to the West Africans

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fired its director of refereeing, Desire Noumandiez Doue, following controversy during the final of the 2024 Africa Women's Cup of Nations.

Nigeria's Super Falcons came from two goals down to win the encounter 3-2, beating host nation Morocco in a pulsating final in Rabat.

It was gathered that CAF arrived at the decision following a protest by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).

Desire Noumandiez Doue, CAF, Referee, WAFCON, Nigeria, Morocco
Desire Doue Noumandiez at the Ivorian football championship match, on March 17, 2014 in Abidjan. Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO.
Source: Getty Images

Moroccan officials claimed there were critical officiating errors during the encounter as they blew away their first-half lead.

Although Doue did not referee the match as a person, he was criticised for his role in referee appointments, Soccernet reports.

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Namibia’s Antsino Twanyanyukwa was in charge of the game and was assisted by officials from Rwanda and Senegal, and Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga on VAR.

Morocco protested a denied penalty and a “soft” penalty awarded to Nigeria, as they submitted a video dossier to CAF alleging that the decisions affected the outcome.

According to Hespress, CAF responded by dismissing Doue as part of efforts to restore confidence in its refereeing standards.

At the 2022 edition of the competition, Nigeria also decried poor officiating, where the Super Falcons, then coached by Randy Waldrum, received two red cards in a semifinal loss to Morocco on penalties.

Upon their arrival back home, the Nigerian women's national team members were treated to a heroic welcome, and that was followed by a lavish reception by President Bola Tinubu.

The leader gave each player in the team the sum of $100,00 alongside the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) as well as houses.

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MTN gifts Super Falcons N150m

Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to react after telecommunication giants MTN donated a huge sum of money to the victorious Super Falcons in Lagos.

Super Falcons have been the subject of celebration from the government and brands after winning the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The players and technical crew members were hosted to a breakfast in Lagos on Thursday morning, during which the brand donated ₦150 million to the team.

Desire Noumandiez Doue, CAF, Referee, WAFCON, Nigeria, Morocco
Noumandiez Desire Doue is pictured during a Group E football match between Ecuador and France at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI.
Source: Getty Images

Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who was named the tournament’s best player, as noted by CAF Online, applauded the kind gesture by MTN on behalf of her teammates.

Plumptre reunites with father

Legit.ng earlier reported that impressive defender Ashleigh Plumptre was overwhelmed by emotions as she hugged her beloved father in Lagos after a long-awaited reunion.

Plumptre played an incredible role in the Nigerian women's national team's quest to win the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Babajide Orevba avatar

Babajide Orevba (Sports Editor) Babajide Orevba is a FIFA and CAF-accredited Nigerian journalist, digital publishing expert, researcher, writer and TV analyst. He has covered several major football tournaments, including FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, AFCON, CAF Competitions, as well as grassroots competitions in Africa. Email: babajide.orevba@corp.legit.ng

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