The Football Association of Zambia (Faz) has demanded a replay of Zambia’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against South Africa.
Faz cited complaints about refereeing decisions in calling for the replay.
Zambia’s women were beaten 1-0 on Monday, July 18, after South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo scored a disputed 94th-minute penalty.
The penalty awarded after video assistant referee (VAR) check. Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse consulted VAR before concluding that Martha Tembo had fouled Jermaine Seoposenwe.
President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, has disagreed with the referee’s decision, saying it was a “questionable penalty.”
The coach of Zambia, Bruce Mwape, wondered what the use of VAR if a decision can be taken.
In its complaints officially lodged with the Wafcon organisers, the Confederation of African Football, Faz highlighted “six key incidences” as grounds for a replay.
In the letter of appeal, Faz indicated that “We wish to contest the decision of the referee to award such a penalty as we call for a serious review of the game.”
Faz added that “We call for the penalty to be cancelled, that a replay be ordered and that the referee be barred from handling any [further] games.”
