By: Fresh Facts Magazine Investigative Team
As the curtain fell on the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco with Nigeria’s Super Falcons emerging victorious, one issue once again cast a long shadow over what should have been a purely celebratory tournament — the persistent use of laser lights by fans to distract opposing players. The unsportsmanlike tactic, often associated with North African football fans, reared its head prominently during the semi-final and final matches in Casablanca, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the sport and the safety of players.
This troubling trend — shining green lasers into the eyes of rival players during key moments such as penalty kicks, corner plays, and goalkeeper saves — has become increasingly normalized at football fixtures in Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria. In the latest edition of WAFCON, numerous video clips and eyewitness accounts confirmed that Moroccan fans used lasers to disrupt the concentration of Nigerian players, most notably in the final match.
An Unfair Advantage
The deliberate use of laser pointers to gain an advantage during high-stakes matches is not just unsporting; it is a direct violation of FIFA and CAF regulations. Article 10 of the FIFA Code of Ethics stipulates fair conduct and integrity as core values of the game. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also repeatedly warned host nations about crowd control and fan behavior. Despite these warnings, laser attacks continue to mar games hosted in North Africa with impunity.
Super Falcons’ coach, Justin Madugu, expressed his dismay after the match:
“Our girls were being blinded by lasers at key moments — it’s dangerous and it’s disgraceful. It affects performance, and worse still, it threatens player safety.”
Historical Context
This is not the first time North African teams have been accused of fan misconduct. During past qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup, similar incidents were recorded in matches involving Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco. In 2022, during the Qatar World Cup qualifiers, Senegal’s goalkeeper Édouard Mendy faced a barrage of green lasers in the decisive penalty shootout against Egypt in Dakar. The visibility of laser usage then drew global condemnation, yet substantial disciplinary action remains elusive.
Implications for African Football
The repeated failure to curb these dangerous practices has far-reaching implications. Firstly, it undermines the spirit of sportsmanship and fair competition that football is built upon. Secondly, it damages the reputation of CAF tournaments and African football globally, especially when such incidents trend on international media platforms.
More worryingly, it poses a security threat. Laser beams can cause temporary or permanent eye damage. If a player or official were to suffer serious harm, it could spark diplomatic tensions between nations and possibly lead to boycotts or withdrawals from future tournaments hosted in North Africa.
Stakeholders Speak Out
Various stakeholders — including players’ unions, coaching associations, and football analysts — are calling on CAF and FIFA to act decisively. Nigerian football legend, Mercy Akide-Udoh, emphasized the need for stricter sanctions:
“CAF must investigate and issue deterrent penalties. Host countries cannot be allowed to win through intimidation and sabotage.”
Meanwhile, a growing section of fans across the continent are demanding fairness and integrity in African football, warning that the continued tolerance of such misconduct could erode trust and diminish fan interest in regional competitions.
What Needs to Be Done
To restore credibility, CAF must:
- Launch an independent investigation into fan behavior during WAFCON 2024.
- Impose severe penalties — including match suspensions or point deductions — for future violations.
- Mandate the installation of advanced stadium surveillance systems to detect and identify laser usage.
- Train and empower match officials to stop games and issue warnings when laser activity is observed.
Most importantly, host nations must be held accountable for crowd control and the safety of all players and officials on the pitch.
Conclusion
Football is meant to unite, not divide. While passion is a celebrated hallmark of African football, it must never cross the line into sabotage or violence. The recurring use of lasers by North African fans is a blight on the beautiful game and a test of the resolve of football’s governing institutions. For the integrity of future tournaments and the safety of players, now is the time for firm action — not excuses.
Fresh Facts Magazine will continue to monitor the situation and demand accountability on behalf of fans who believe in fairness, excellence, and sportsmanship.
