Zambia have launched an official protest over their 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final defeat to South Africa on Monday evening.The Copper Queens failed to make it the cup final after going down 1-0 to an unconvincing Banyana Banyana side who were awarded a very late controversial penalty that was converted by Linda Motlhalo in the 94th minute.After the game, the Zambia Football Association lodged a protest over the call of match official Lidya Abebe, who pointed to the spot after a VAR foul review on Jermaine Seoposenwe who was adjudged to have been fouled in the area. WAFCON 22: Shaky Banyana Banyana scrape through to cup final after edging ZambiaThe ZFA posted a statement following their decision.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.##NAJAVA_MECA_6515387##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.”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.”OREGON22: Kipsang and Cheruiyot hunt Kenya’s second gold medal in 1500m finalKashala says FAZ opted to file a complaint as Zambia suffered similar injustices in their quarterfinal victory over Senegal.”We have further noted with great concern the poor officiating that characterized 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.Kashala said casting a blind eye to the multiple horrendous refereeing decisions would be perpetuating the injustice caused by the referee.The appeal takes people back to 2021 when South Africa made a “formal complaint” to FIFA after the match against Ghana as they appealed for a replay after a series of “questionable decisions”, according to the chief executive of their football association. Their appeal was however thrown out
