The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has dismissed its Director of Refereeing, Désiré Noumandiez Doué, following a controversial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final on July 26, 2025, where Nigeria’s Super Falcons defeated host nation Morocco 3-2 to claim their 10th title. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) lodged a formal protest, citing “critical officiating errors,” including a denied penalty for Morocco and a “soft” penalty awarded to Nigeria, which they claimed altered the match’s outcome at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Doué, responsible for appointing match officials, was sacked to restore confidence in CAF’s refereeing standards, though CAF has not issued an official statement confirming the decision. The final was officiated by Namibia’s Antsino Twanyanyukwa, with assistants from Rwanda and Senegal, and VAR led by Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga.The controversy echoes past tensions, notably at the 2022 WAFCON, also hosted by Morocco, where Nigeria decried poor officiating after receiving two red cards in a semifinal loss to Morocco on penalties. Social media reactions, as seen in posts, highlight Moroccan fans’ accusations of bias, while Nigerian supporters argue Morocco’s complaints are hypocritical given unpunished incidents like laser lights targeting Super Falcons players in 2022. The FRMF’s protest included video evidence of alleged errors, but critics, question the validity of their claims, noting the referee reviewed VAR footage before deciding. CAF’s move to remove Doué, appears to be a response to mounting pressure, though some Nigerian fans view it as succumbing to Morocco’s influence.
The Super Falcons’ victory, sealed by Jennifer Echegini’s 88th-minute goal, has been celebrated widely in Nigeria, with President Bola Tinubu awarding each player $100,000, houses, and the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), per Nigerian Eye. The sacking of Doué, while significant, has not overshadowed Nigeria’s triumph, though it raises questions about CAF’s refereeing oversight, especially with the 2025 AFCON looming. Moroccan media, like Hespress, frame the dismissal as a step toward reform, but Nigerian commentators argue CAF must address broader issues, including Morocco’s alleged unsportsmanlike conduct, to ensure fairness in African football.
