CAF Fires Refereeing Chief Following Controversial WAFCON Final Victory by Nigeria

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly dismissed its Director of Refereeing, Désiré Noumandiez Doué, following intense controversy over officiating decisions in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, where Nigeria’s Super Falcons clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory over host nation Morocco.

The decision, reported by multiple credible sources comes in response to a formal protest lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which cited “critical officiating errors” that allegedly influenced the outcome of the match held on July 26, 2025, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The Super Falcons, trailing by two goals, staged a remarkable comeback to secure their record-extending 10th WAFCON title, with Jennifer Echegini scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute.

However, the match was overshadowed by contentious refereeing decisions, including a denied penalty for Morocco and a “soft” penalty awarded to Nigeria, which the FRMF claimed altered the game’s momentum.

The final was officiated by Namibia’s Antsino Twanyanyukwa, with assistants from Rwanda and Senegal, and Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga overseeing VAR.

While Doué did not officiate the match, his role in appointing the officials drew scrutiny, leading to his reported removal as CAF’s first step toward restoring confidence in its refereeing standards.

The FRMF’s protest included video evidence highlighting what they described as “glaring mistakes,” particularly a reversed penalty call after VAR review, which Moroccan officials argued should have stood due to a clear handball.

An anonymous FRMF official, quoted by UK-based Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, criticized the VAR team, alleging that referee Mukansanga deliberately withheld footage that could have proven Morocco’s case.

“VAR exists to correct mistakes, not create them,” the official stated.

The controversy has reignited debates about refereeing impartiality in African football, with some Nigerian fans pointing to past grievances.

In the 2022 WAFCON, also hosted by Morocco, the Super Falcons faced what they described as biased officiating, receiving two red cards in a semifinal loss to Morocco on penalties.

CAF has not yet issued an official statement confirming Doué’s dismissal, but sources suggest this move is part of broader efforts to address persistent criticism of refereeing standards in African competitions.