CAF’s Sham and Morocco’s Betrayal: WAFCON Loss Exposes FIFA’s Arab-Focused Puppet

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final on July 26, 2025, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was meant to crown Morocco as the untouchable darling of African football, handpicked by FIFA to lead their Arab-centric agenda.

Nigeria’s defiant 3-2 victory, however, tore through that script, exposing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a spineless tool in FIFA’s scheme to prop up Morocco while they turn their backs on Africa to embrace an Arab identity.

The reported sacking of Doue Noumandiez, Director of Refereeing, and murky rumors about Raul Chipenda, Director of Development, getting axed are CAF’s desperate attempt to hide their bias.

Morocco’s whining, their push to be seen as an Arab nation over African, and FIFA’s fingerprints all over this scandal reveal a disgusting truth: African football’s being sold out, and I’m here to call it out.

Let’s cut through the noise. Morocco thinks they’re above African football. Their men’s team’s 2022 World Cup semifinal run, a shiny new FIFA regional headquarters in Rabat, and a 2030 World Cup co-hosting bid with Spain and Portugal have them acting like they’ve outgrown the continent.

Add to that their open push to be recognized as an Arab nation, distancing themselves from their African roots—seen in their heavy involvement with the Arab Cup and their football federation’s cozy ties with Middle Eastern bodies, such as the Arab Football Federation.

They want the prestige of Africa’s tournaments without the African label. Yet, in the WAFCON final, Nigeria’s Super Falcons—fueled by Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Joe Echegini’s late dagger—humbled them 3-2.

The flashpoint? A 78th-minute handball by Nigeria’s Oluwatosin Demehin, initially called a penalty by referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa, was overturned after a VAR review led by Salima Mukansanga.

Morocco’s bench erupted, their fans cried theft, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) filed a complaint, waving video clips and screaming “injustice,” per Morocco World News. Their tears are crocodile tears.

Rewind to 2022’s WAFCON, hosted by Morocco, where Nigeria faced two red cards and refereeing so biased it was practically a Moroccan assist. Nigeria didn’t whine—they fought.

Now, Morocco, draped in their Arab aspirations and royal backing from King Mohammed VI, can’t handle a fair loss. Their complaint, claiming VAR hid footage proving a penalty, as Hespress noted, reeks of entitlement.

They’re not just sore losers—they’re a nation trying to cherry-pick African glory while flaunting an Arab identity to curry favor with global powers.

CAF’s in bed with FIFA, and Morocco’s their Arab poster child. FIFA’s new Rabat headquarters, opened in 2024, isn’t just a building—it’s a declaration that Morocco’s their gateway to the Arab world, not Africa.

With the 2030 World Cup bid looming, FIFA is banking on Morocco to bridge African football with Arab money and influence, and CAF’s job was to deliver a WAFCON title to cement that narrative.

Doue Noumandiez, CAF’s Refereeing Director, picked officials to tilt the game for Morocco. That “soft” penalty Nigeria got? A flimsy cover for CAF’s real plan: rigging the final for the hosts. When VAR didn’t deliver Morocco’s win, the plot unraveled, and CAF scrambled.

Noumandiez’s reported sacking, as per Blueprint Newspapers and Le360 Sport, is CAF tossing him overboard to dodge blame for their Alleged bias in favor of Morocco.

The rumors about Raul Chipenda’s dismissal, fueled by an unverified social media post from Osasu Obayiuwana, are murkier—there is no confirmation from CAF, despite Chipenda’s active role in 2024, according to Pindula’s Zimbabwe stadium reports.

If he’s out, he’s another scapegoat; if not, it’s CAF’s usual secrecy to protect their FIFA masters. Either way, CAF’s silence screams complicity. They’re not just failing African football—they’re selling it out to FIFA’s vision of Morocco as an Arab, not African, football hub.

Connect the dots, and it’s glaring. FIFA’s grooming Morocco to be their Arab industry plant, not Africa’s champion. The Rabat headquarters, as AfricaSoccer.com reported, is a strategic move to position Morocco at the center of their global strategy, leveraging their Arab identity to tap into Middle Eastern markets.

The 2030 World Cup bid? It’s Morocco’s reward for playing ball, with CAF as the enabler. A WAFCON win would’ve been the perfect PR stunt, showcasing Morocco’s “Arab-African” hybrid appeal. Nigeria’s upset ruined that, exposing CAF’s bias and Morocco’s hypocrisy.

They want African trophies but shun African identity, cozying up to Arab football bodies while hosting CAF events. CAF’s history of refereeing scandals—sacking Eddy Maillet in 2022 over similar issues, per Africa Top Sports—shows they’ve been at this game for years: rig matches, fire someone when it fails, repeat.

Morocco’s claim of North African bias, per AfricaSoccer.com, is laughable when CAF is clearly bending over for them. That CAF promo video is splitting Morocco’s map? A distraction from their real agenda: propping up Morocco as FIFA’s Arab darling.

Social media users are roasting it—one Nigerian fan posted, “Morocco wants to be Arab when it suits them, but African when there’s a trophy. CAF’s just FIFA’s puppet, and Nigeria showed them up.”

Noumandiez’s exit and the Chipenda rumors are CAF’s panic mode. They’re even floating foreign referees for AFCON 2025, per Blueprint Newspapers, admitting their refs are either incompetent or too easy to manipulate.

Names like Redouane Jiyed or Bakary Gassama are in the mix to replace Noumandiez, but they’ll just be new pawns in CAF’s FIFA-driven game.

Morocco’s gearing up for AFCON, with their world-class stadiums and Arab-focused branding, but Nigeria’s win proves they’re not untouchable.

Still, with FIFA’s Rabat HQ pulling strings, I’m bracing for a rigged tournament to ensure Morocco’s glory. Morocco’s no victim—they’re the beneficiary of a system that failed them this time.

Nigeria’s victory, celebrated with honors from President Bola Tinubu, was a rebellion against CAF’s bias and FIFA’s Arab obsession. But AFCON 2025 looms, and Morocco’s Arab identity push—while leaning on African hosting privileges—makes them FIFA’s perfect plant.

Will CAF stack the refs again? Will Chipenda’s fate be clarified, or is he just collateral damage in FIFA’s Morocco love affair? One thing’s clear: Morocco’s playing both sides, and CAF’s letting them.

This WAFCON scandal isn’t about one bad call—it’s about Morocco ditching Africa for Arab clout, CAF selling out to FIFA, and African football paying the price.

The FRMF’s whining, CAF’s silence, and FIFA’s Rabat power grab tell the story: Morocco’s being molded as an Arab industry plant, not an African champion.

Nigeria’s win was a wake-up call, but with AFCON 2025 around the corner, I’m watching. Morocco needs to pick a side—African or Arab. CAF needs to break free from FIFA’s leash. And FIFA? Keep your hands off our game.