The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly sacked its Director of Refereeing, Désiré Noumandiez Doué, following a major controversy after the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, where Nigeria were crowned champions for the 10th time.
Doué’s removal comes after the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) submitted an official protest, claiming there were serious mistakes by the referees during the final match in Rabat. Morocco, the host country, lost 3–2 to Nigeria after taking a two-goal lead.
Although Doué did not officiate the game himself, he was responsible for appointing the match officials. The final was handled by Namibia’s Antsino Twanyanyukwa, with assistants from Rwanda and Senegal. VAR was overseen by Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda.
The FRMF complained that Morocco were denied a clear penalty and criticised the “soft” penalty given to Nigeria. They sent a video report to CAF, pointing out several decisions they believe cost them the match.
After the game, Morocco’s coach Jorge Vilda told ESPN:
“We saw video replays showing clear contact, but the referee reversed her decision. It affected our players mentally. It was a big setback.”
According to reports by Hespress, CAF responded quickly to the complaints by removing Doué from his position. His dismissal is said to be the first step in efforts to improve trust in CAF’s refereeing system.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Falcons remain focused on their achievement, winning a record 10th WAFCON title.
The team has received a hero’s welcome in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu honoured the players with national awards, cash gifts, and plots of land. Several governors and Super Eagles stars also gave financial rewards to the team.
At the 2022 WAFCON, which was also hosted by Morocco, the Super Falcons were victims of poor officiating. In their semi-final match against Morocco, they received two red cards and eventually lost on penalties.
This latest victory has made their comeback even more special.