CAF has removed its refereeing chief, Désiré Noumandiez Doué, just days after a turbulent WAFCON 2024 final that left Morocco furious and Nigeria lifting the trophy – www.isagoal.com reports.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation accused officials of serious errors during the match, prompting CAF to act quickly.
Hespress was the first to report Doué’s dismissal, a move reportedly aimed at addressing growing complaints about officiating integrity across African tournaments.
Though Doué wasn’t directly involved in refereeing the final, his role in appointing the officiating team made him a central figure in the backlash.
The final, led by Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa, was filled with moments Morocco believed were unjust, including a denied penalty and a controversial call in Nigeria’s favor.
Morocco’s coach Jorge Vilda told ESPN, “We saw images that showed clear contact, but the referee overturned her own call. It impacted our players psychologically.”
Nigeria had come from behind to win 3–2, with Jennifer Echegini’s late strike sealing the deal for their record 10th title.
The FRMF submitted a video dossier highlighting the refereeing missteps they say tilted the final’s outcome.
Following Nigeria’s triumph, the Super Falcons were warmly received at home, earning national honors and presidential rewards.
Several Nigerian state governors and football figures joined in celebrating the team with cash prizes and gifts.
It wasn’t the first time Nigeria clashed with officiating at WAFCON; the 2022 tournament also saw them hit with questionable red cards in the semifinal.
CAF is expected to introduce additional changes following Doué’s exit as pressure mounts to clean up officiating standards across its competitions.
This article was updated 5 days ago