Zambia Lodge Complaint Against South Africa Game Referee

The Football Association of Zambia(FAZ) has lodged a complaint to African football governing body (CAF) against the referee of Wednesday’s match against South Africa in the  Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.

The Banyana Banyana advanced to the final after being Zambia 1-0 in a game that witnessed controversial penalty awarded by Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse Abebe amid objections from Copper Queens players.

“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.”

FAZ general secretary Adrian Kashala says they have advanced six key incidences in the match as they suffered similar injustices in their quarterfinal victory over Senegal.

“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.

Abebe is one of Africa’s most decorated referees, having officiated at several Women’s Nations Cup editions as well as the 2020 African Nations Championships (CHAN).

The 42-year-old is the first ever woman to officiate in the Ethiopian Premier League and was also the first ever woman FIFA centre referee in the East African nation.