Morocco report Namibian referee to CAF for 'influential refereeing errors' after laser-marred final defeat to Nigeria

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has formally lodged a protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the refereeing decisions of Namibian official Antsino Twanyanyukwa during the closely contested Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Nigeria, which Morocco lost 3-2.

Morocco’s complaint centres on what they describe as “influential refereeing errors” that significantly impacted the outcome of the match. Specifically, they argue that a crucial penalty was wrongly denied to Morocco in the 82nd minute and that a handball penalty awarded to Nigeria was incorrectly given after a VAR review. 

The FRMF has accompanied their protest with video evidence they believe clearly highlights these officiating mistakes according to a report by reliable Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.

An official from the Moroccan federation, speaking anonymously, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the VAR process, stating, “The VAR referee refused to take the sequences that clearly show and prove that there was an obvious penalty.” 

“We are fully aware that the match will not be replayed, but it is unacceptable to see such behavior from someone responsible for VAR. VAR is there to correct mistakes. It is not there for anything else.”

• At the 63rd minute, Nigeria was awarded a penalty after a handball by Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina, a decision Morocco disputes as wrongly awarded.

• Near the 82nd minute, Morocco initially believed they were awarded a clear penalty, but referee Twanyanyukwa reversed the decision after consulting VAR, despite video footage suggesting their player was fouled in the box.

The match itself was dramatic, with Nigeria staging a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2, clinching their 10th WAFCON title. 

However, tensions overshadowed the event as hundreds of Nigerian players were targeted by green laser beams from Moroccan supporters throughout the match, notably during set-pieces and throw-ins. 

Players such as Esther Okoronkwo and Michelle Alozie, and Nigeria’s head coach Justine Madugu, were visibly disrupted by the laser attacks.

This laser harassment has sparked widespread criticism of CAF’s management of fan behaviour, with calls for stronger sanctions including stadium bans, match suspensions, or restrictions on future hosting rights for Morocco.

To date, CAF has not issued a public response to Morocco’s protest regarding the refereeing nor addressed the laser incident complaints. Meanwhile, the controversy adds an intense chapter to the historic rivalry and the narrative of Nigeria's remarkable comeback victory in Rabat.

The full implications of Morocco’s complaint and the laser attack controversy remain to be seen as CAF reviews both issues.