In a dramatic turn of events following the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final, Morocco has officially lodged a protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the eligibility of two Nigerian players. The final, held on Saturday, saw Nigeria stage a stunning second-half comeback to defeat the host nation 3-2 and clinch their tenth WAFCON title.
Morocco, who led 2-0 at halftime, were left reeling after Nigeria turned the game around in the second half with a spirited performance. However, attention quickly shifted from the on-field action to the legal battleground, as Morocco submitted a petition questioning the eligibility of Ashleigh Plumptre and Michelle Alozie—two key figures in Nigeria’s victorious campaign.
Both players were born outside Nigeria but have been capped multiple times by the Super Falcons. Plumptre, born in England, was cleared to represent Nigeria by FIFA in 2021 after documentation confirmed that her paternal grandfather was Nigerian. Alozie, on the other hand, is a U.S.-born player whose Nigerian heritage comes through her immigrant parents, making her eligibility far less contested.
Despite these approvals, Moroccan officials allege there are irregularities in the nationality switches and claim the process for confirming the players’ eligibility was flawed. Their petition demands Nigeria be stripped of the title for fielding allegedly ineligible players.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), however, has dismissed the protest with confidence. A senior NFF official labeled the complaint as “dead on arrival,” affirming that all proper procedures were followed in securing FIFA’s clearance for both players.
CAF has yet to make an official statement regarding the petition, but sources suggest the case is unlikely to gain traction given the historical precedents and clearances already granted by football’s global governing body.
As the fallout from WAFCON 2025 continues, all eyes will be on CAF’s next move—though, for now, Nigeria celebrates yet another chapter in their storied legacy in African women’s football.
-Deeprows Sports
