President Federation Cup Final: Questionable Penalty Ends Naija Ratels' Dream

President Federation Cup Final: Questionable Penalty Ends Naija Ratels' Dream

Ibrahim Lateef

Barely 48 hours after the 2024 Women’s Federation Cup final, losing finalists Naija Ratels remain disgruntled over the controversial manner in which the game concluded, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Naija Ratels faced the most successful club in Nigeria's women's football, Rivers Angels, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. The game ended contentiously when, towards the tail end of the match, Rivers Angels were awarded a penalty following a misjudgment by the referee. The controversial call gifted Blessing Okpe the eventual match-winner on the brink of half time despite manying appeals for reviews from players of the Abuja-based outfit.

The incident occurred when the ball struck the thigh of an onrushing Naija Ratels center-back. However, Dominion Kalu Isabelle Karl from the Enugu Council, the assistant referee, erroneously signaled for a penalty instead of a corner kick. FIFA-badged referee Yemisi Akintoye from the Lagos State Referees Council officiated the match and was assisted by Ekun Folashade Standard from Lagos and Dominion Kalu Isabelle Karl, with Alaba Fumi acting as the fourth official.

According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules:

"Handball is the illegal contact/touch of the ball with the hand(s) and/or arm(s). However, it’s not automatically a handball offense every time the ball touches a player's hand/arm."

This outcome has reignited calls for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in Nigerian league and Cup games, placing additional pressure on football authorities to enhance officiating standards. Additionally, necessary sanctions should be applied to the officials involved to prevent a repeat of such errors in future high-profile matches.

Naija Ratels will undoubtedly rue this missed opportunity to clinch their first major title in the history of women's football in Nigeria for a long time to come.