2022 WAFCON: FAZ wants a replay…As an official complaint is lodged
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has lodged an official complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following poor officiating in Monday’s semifinal clash between Banyana Banyana and the Copper Queens at the ongoing 2022 Morocco Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
According to a statement by FAZ Communications manager Sydney Mungala availed to the ZamFoot Crew, FAZ general secretary Adrian Kashala has advanced six key incidences including the late minute penalty awarded to South Africa in his letter to CAF.
“The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) wishes to inform its stakeholders and football family that it has lodged a formal complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against the officiating exhibited by Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse Abebe during the 2022 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final match between Zambia and South Africa.
In a complaint letter dated 18th July 2022 addressed to CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, FAZ general secretary Adrian Kashala advanced six key incidences including the late minute penalty awarded to South Africa.”
Kashala has called for a serious review of the game. FAZ want a replay to be ordered and the referee sanctioned.
“We therefore wish to contest against the decision of the referee to award such a penalty resulting in a goal which decided against our team progressing to the finals as we call for a serious review of the game,” read part of the FAZ appeal.
“We call for the penalty to be cancelled, that a replay be ordered and that the referee be barred from handling any games.”
Kashala says FAZ opted to file a complaint as Zambia suffered similar injustices in their quarterfinal victory over Senegal.
Kashala said casting a blind eye to the multiple horrendous refereeing decisions would be perpetuating the injustice caused by the referee.
“We have further noted with great concern the poor officiating that characterised the tournament specifically our games. We recorded similar incidents of poor match officiating by referees who have gone scot-free among them referee Bouchra Karboubi who has continued to handle games at the tournament as if nothing happened,” he said.
The Copper Queens were robbed by Referee Lydia Tafesae Abebe and Video Assistant Referees (VAR) with a suspicious penalty in the dying minutes of the match for an alleged foul by Martha Tembo on Jermaine Seoposenwe.
The Ethiopian referee had earlier awarded Banyana Banyana a penalty in the 58th minute but after a VAR check it was reversed for a free kick as the foul by Lushomo Mweemba on Cesane was outside the box.