The meeting between Nigeria and England in the Round of Sixteen at the 2023 Women’s World Cup was full of anticipation and excitement. However, during the first half, one particular moment stood out as a harrowing example of an unjust decision that went against Nigeria and left fans and players frustrated.
Nigeria, buoyed by their determination to continue in the tournament, started the game strongly and came close to an early lead. Ashleigh Plumptre’s thunderous shot from outside the box shook the woodwork, denying Nigeria the perfect start they so longed for. Yet it wasn’t just missed opportunities that marred Nigeria’s first-half performance. A controversial moment occurred when England were initially awarded a penalty after a questionable foul by the referee. Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade was deemed to have committed a foul against Rachel Daly in the penalty area, leading the referee to point to the spot. However, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) stepped in to review the decision and on closer inspection it became clear that the contact made by Ajibade was minimal and more of a gentle touch than a significant foul. VAR’s intervention overturned the initial decision, saving Nigeria from what could have been a highly controversial penalty that would have drastically changed the course of the match. The slim margins in football can often lead to game-changing moments, and Nigeria were unlucky enough to find themselves on the receiving end of what could have been an unfair penalty.
Such incidents highlight the need for greater reliance on technology and the help of VAR in major tournaments such as the Women’s World Cup. VAR was introduced to minimize human error and ensure fairness of action, and this case shows how it played a vital role in righting a potentially erroneous decision.