By Our Correspondent

Ethiopian football referee Lydia Tafessa Abebe who was in charge of last Monday’s first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON semi-final match between Zambia and South Africa has deactivated all her social media accounts.

The Ethiopian has been showered with unpalatable messages by Zambians as well as some football followers who felt her decision to award South Africa a penalty in the last minute was unfair and bias.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana were awarded a controversial 94th minute penalty which was converted to give them a 1-0 win over the resolute Zambia ladies.

Linda Motlhalo scored a controversial penalty on added time against Zambia to send the Bayana Bayana of South Africa to the WAFCON final on Monday.

The match was heading for extra-time on four minutes added time when a South African player was fouled slightly outside the 18-yard box, with the player falling inside the box.

The referee blew the whistle for a penalty and everyone was shocked.

Motlhalo stepped in and scored the winner for South Africa.

The Zambians had dominated the match in the first half, losing several scoring chances, but paid the price of not converting their chances.

However , Ethiopian journalist Hassan Mahi has told African football greats that the referee has deactivated her social media accounts and agreed that the decision is questionable but blamed the video assistant referees for calling her to review the incident as they made her feel compelled to give South Africa a penalty.

There have been outrage on Twitter over the controversial penalty that sent South Africa to the final of WAFCON,

Emmanuel Mulenga wrote: “Zambia vs south Africa that’s robbery.”

Stallone Mudala added: “CAF is destroying football in Africa. Pure corruption behind the scenes of the game Zambia vs South Africa. That was not a penalty and it’s a shame that South Africa is going to play a final freely gifted to them by stupid referee.”

Kidown wrote: “The other day caf president packed all his daughters in caf women player of the year. As if that was not enough, the ref just favoured South Africa Bayana vs Zambia. Zambia didn’t deserve this. Up next Nigeria vs Morocco. We hope that the Super Falcons won’t be another victim?”

Thomas Phiri said “Again we are disappointed with African football and refereeing , South Africa vs Zambia..where on earth did the penalty come from ???”

AtalapkaofBenin added: “@CAFwomen the officiating of this Zambia vs South Africa match was so biased! How’s that a penalty? Not even a tackle and it didn’t even happen inside the box. This is bad for Africa women football.”