CAF has reportedly removed Désiré Noumandiez Doué from his post as Director of Refereeing, following a formal protest by Morocco over officiating in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final.
According to several reports, the move is CAF’s first disciplinary response after widespread criticism of refereeing standards – criticism that intensified after the final, held at Rabat’s Olympic stadium last Saturday.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) submitted an official complaint earlier this week, citing what it called “critical errors” during the match. The final, officiated by Namibia’s Antsino Twanyanyukwa – with assistance from Rwanda, Senegal, and a VAR team led by Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga – ended in a 3–2 win for Nigeria.
Morocco have clearly been denied a clear penalty and criticised a “highly debatable” spot-kick awarded to Nigeria. The FRMF attached a CD containing video clips of more incidents they argue “changed the course of the match”.
Morocco head coach Jorge Vilda expressed disbelief after the match. “We can’t understand the decision made by the referee,” he told ESPN. “She gave a penalty, but then the images we saw weren’t the same as those presented to the referee. The images were clear—we were sure she had to give a penalty.”
“There was a penalty that should have stood—the referee blew for it, but then went to VAR. We saw there was a handball, but the referee overturned it. That decision determined our fate. It had a psychological impact that shocked us. It was a massive blow.”
The episode has reignited concerns about refereeing standards and transparency at CAF. Several North African associations have long voiced frustration, accusing the organisation – led by South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe – of regional bias.
CAF has faced criticism on other fronts too, including backlash over a promotional video that showed a divided map of Morocco, omitting the country’s southern provinces.
Sources say CAF is now reviewing its refereeing system under growing pressure from member associations. A shake-up may be imminent.
