Rejected penalty for Morocco in WAFCON

Vilda Blames VAR Penalty Call for Morocco's WAFCON Final Defeat to Nigeria

Rabat, Morocco – Morocco's women's national team coach, Jorge Vilda, has expressed deep frustration following his side's dramatic 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, squarely attributing the loss to a contentious VAR penalty decision that went against the Atlas Lionesses.1

In a thrilling final played in Rabat, Morocco had taken a comfortable 2-0 lead in the first half, delighting the home crowd. However, Nigeria staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, with the turning point coming from a series of VAR interventions.

While Nigeria was awarded a penalty via VAR for a handball, which they converted to begin their comeback, the decision that truly drew Vilda's ire was the overturning of a penalty initially awarded to Morocco.2 With the score tied at 2-2 in the latter stages of the game, the referee pointed to the spot for what appeared to be a clear handball by a Nigerian defender. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was controversially reversed, leaving the Moroccan camp stunned.

Speaking after the match, Vilda lamented the overturned penalty, stating it "took the wind out of our sails."3 He highlighted that despite his team's dominant first-half performance, this "small detail" ultimately cost them the game.4 While acknowledging the physical exhaustion of his players in the second half, a natural consequence of a demanding tournament, his primary focus remained on the officiating.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has since lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over what they described as "refereeing injustices," particularly citing the penalty incident.5 Moroccan fans and local media have echoed Vilda's sentiments, with many describing the VAR decision as "scandalous" and a critical factor in the outcome.6

Despite the heartbreak of missing out on their first WAFCON title, Morocco's performance throughout the tournament, especially under Vilda's guidance, has earned them widespread praise and demonstrated their significant progress in African women's football. Nigeria, meanwhile, celebrated their record-extending 10th WAFCON title, a testament to their enduring dominance on the continent.7