CAF Sacks Refereeing Boss After Morocco’s Explosive Protest Over WAFCON Final Loss to Nigeria
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly fired its Director of Refereeing, Désiré Noumandiez Doué, in the aftermath of Morocco’s official protest over the controversial WAFCON 2025 final loss to Nigeria. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
While Doué did not officiate the final himself, he was responsible for appointing the refereeing team whose decisions have come under intense scrutiny. The final, held in Rabat, saw Nigeria’s Super Falcons mount a stunning comeback from 2–0 down to win 3–2, clinching their record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) submitted a formal complaint to CAF, attaching video analysis highlighting key refereeing decisions—including a denied penalty for Morocco and a VAR-assisted penalty awarded to Nigeria—that they claim changed the course of the match.
Namibia’s Antsino Twanyanyukwa officiated the game, assisted by officials from Rwanda and Senegal. VAR was handled by Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga, a respected name in women’s football officiating.
In a post-match interview, Morocco head coach Jorge Vilda expressed outrage:
“We saw clear contact. The referee reversed her decision after VAR. That broke our momentum and spirit.”
CAF has not yet officially confirmed Doué’s dismissal, but the timing—shortly after Morocco’s protest—has fueled speculation that the move was in response to pressure from FRMF and broader public backlash.
The incident has reignited conversations around refereeing standards, VAR usage, and transparency in African football governance.