Canceled Penalty ‘Took Wind Out of Our Sails’

Rabat — Head coach for Morocco’s women’s football team Jorge Vilda has acknowledged how the unexplained referee decision to cancel a legitimate penalty shoot for the Atlas Lionesses caused a major blow for his squad in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday.

Last night, the Moroccan squad was on the brink of winning the final match against Nigeria. But instead, the Atlas Lionesses were deprived of a penalty that the referee and the VAR room both claimed illegitimate.

Despite footage showing a Nigerian player clearing and handling the ball in the penalty box, this was deemed insufficient by both the referee and the VAR room to uphold the overturned penalty.

At the time, the match was tied 2-2 in the second half after the Atlas Lionesses had dominated the first half with a 2-0 lead.

For Vilda, the situation caused a real psychological blow to Morocco.

“It took the wind out of our sails,” he said. He added that despite the disappointment, the Atlas Lionesses proved they belong on the continental stage.

He acknowledged that “Morocco paid dearly for small details,” commenting that the first half was perfect.

However, Morocco’s women’s team showed physical exhaustion during the second half, which is only normal due to cumulative fatigue from previous games.

Nigeria’s coach Justin Madugu echoed Vilda’s praise for the Atlas Lionesses’ strong start, saying his squad was “surprised by Morocco’s tactical and physical strength in the first half.”

Yesterday, Nigeria took its 10th WAFCON trophy. While the Atlas Lionesses were unable to claim their first, they earned more respect and support from Moroccan fans, who acknowledged their strength and powerful skills throughout the tournament.