ZAMBIA files official complaint with FIFA over Moroccan referee Noureddine El Jaafari in World Cup Qualifiers loss to Equatorial Guinea
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has filed an official complaint with FIFA over referee Noureddine El Jaafari’s handling of Thursday’s 2-0 away FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifier loss to Equatorial Guinea in Malabo.
The Moroccan referee sent-off Chipolopolo midfielder Prince Mumba on the 25’ minute mark for stomping on Basilo Ndong.
Furthermore, protests from Zambian players over some infringements particularly on striker Patson Daka went ignored as Zambia feel cheated.
Saul Coca opened the home side’s account in the first half before Emilio Nsue completed the 2-0 win on the 85’ minute as claimed second victory in the African World Cup qualifiers to Qatar.
The win lift them to second place in Group B three points behind Tunisia who lead with three straight victories.
“Football is about fairplay but what we saw today (Thursday) was completely outside normal football that we all subscribe to,” FAZ president Andrew Kamanga told players and officials in Malabo after the game on Thursday evening before their departure for Lusaka on a chartered flight.
“For the record, we wish to confirm that at halftime we went to see the match commissioner and we actually played the second half under protest, so that too was recorded.
“So even after the second half, we still went back and filed a formal complaint.
“All because we believe that football should be won fairly on the pitch but what we witnessed today was nowhere near there.”
Three other Chipolopolo players received yellow cards including midfielder Dickson Chapa who is now ruled out of the Group B final leg match against Equatorial Guinea in Lusaka this Sunday after accruing his second caution of the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, with three Group B matches to go, third placed Chipolopolo have now suffered successive defeats.
