The WAFCON semi-final games yesterday in Morocco mirrored the yawning chasm between the various levels of football administration and the standard of the game in the continent.

While the games produced jaw-dropping sublime soccer displays from the sides, the officiating and administrative side of African football was abysmal.
The ineptitude of the host nation in crowd control and the elusiveness of the confederation of African Football (CAF) stalwarts to be malleable to manage the game and competitions in the continent effectively, were evident.

The semi-finals games-Zambia versus South Africa and hosts Morocco versus Nigeria-both ended with major refereeing controversies.

The Video Assistant referee (VAR) played a controversial role in deciding both encounters. In the first semi-final encounter, a controversial VAR decision awarded Bayana Bayana of South Africa what most believed was a soft last-minute penalty kick.

Linda Motlhalo gleefully dispatched the stoppage time booboo spot kick into the Zambian net paving a pathway for the South Africans into a highly contentious WAFCON 2022 final.

“Shame on you CAF. Thanks for using VAR to ruin women’s football in Africa. Against Zambia and as well against Nigeria. If this was a Nigerian, it would have been a Third Red Card. But VAR never called the referee. Hope CAF legalized the green lasers used on Super Falcons.” -Fan

A few hours later, at important moments during the semi-final play between host nation Morocco and Nigeria at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay-Abdellah yesterday, it appeared as if invincible hands were again at work; this time, to make sure that the hosts should progress at all costs.

Sure, the home support for the Moroccans was overwhelming, but Super Falcons appeared to successfully shut out the deafening noise of Moroccan supporters of the Atlas Lionesses from the stands by standing their ground.

The first half of the encounter ended in a stalemate. In the second stanza of the match, however, VAR seemed to have taken an ugly hold on the encounter, twice reversing the central referee’s yellow cards to Halimatu Ayinde (48th minute) and Rasheedat Ajibade (70th minute) for red cards.

The same VAR starkly ignored an earlier tackle by a Moroccan player that everyone agreed is a red card offence even failing to give the incident a review.

Just as the 48th minute sending off for Ayinde completely swung the momentum of the encounter in favour of the Moroccans from then on, such could have been the fate of the Nigerians had VAR been a wee bit considerate to them.

Senegal and Cameroon have qualified for the inter-continental play-offs for next year’s FIFA women’s world cup following their hard-fought victories over Tunisia and Botswana at the ongoing women’s Africa cup of nations (WAFCON) taking place in Morocco.

Senegal beat Tunisia 4-2 on penalties on Sunday at the Total Energies women’s Africa cup of nations in Casablanca on Sunday.

Senegal and Tunisia finished their encounter scoreless. In the ensuing spot kicks, while Tunisia’s substitute goalkeeper Nesrine Zizi saved Hapsatou Malado Diallo’s penalty she could not deny Mama Diop, Mbayang Sow, Nguenar Ndiaye and Korka Fall from burying their kicks from the spot in her net.

Sabrine Elouzi and Samia Ouni responded positively for Tunisia from their spot kicks but their efforts fell shot of preventing Senegal’s progress to the playoffs.

Moments later, Cameroon also booked their place at the playoffs following their 1-0 win over hard fighting Botswana through Ajara Njoya’s lone strike.

Senegal and Cameroon must now join eight other countries from other continents in the inter-confederation playoffs scheduled for February next year where two slots for the world cup are up for grabs.