Zambia fume over Banyana penalty, lodge referee complaint to CAF

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has lodged a complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the referee's decision to award Banyana Banyana a penalty in Monday's 2022 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.

Late in the second-half, Jermaine Seoposenwe was brought down on the edge of the box, and the Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse Abebe was advised by VAR (video assistant referee) to have a look at the side pitch screen monitor.

After thoroughly checking the incident, she awarded a penalty to South Africa, which Linda Motlhalo converted, resulting in a 1-0 victory for Banyana.

Banyana will face host nation Morocco in the final on Saturday.

The Zambians, though, aren't happy.

"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," said FAZ general secretary Adrian Kashala in a letter directed to CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba.

"We call for the penalty to be cancelled, that a replay be ordered and that the referee be barred from handling any games."

@FAZFootball officially lodges a formal complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against the officiating exhibited by Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse Abebe during the #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 semi-final match between Zambia and South Africa. pic.twitter.com/T7miAcaZkm

Last November, South Africa's senior national men's team also lodged a complaint to CAF and FIFA to investigate the performance of the match officials during Bafana Bafana's 1-0 loss to Ghana.

The deciding goal came from the penalty spot in the most controversial fashion when South African defender Rushine De Reuck