AFCON
VIDEOS: DOES VAR WORK IN AFRICA?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
For the first time, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is being used at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The application began at the quarterfinals stage.
Incidentally, all the four matches played had incidents that called for reviews by VAR. Sadly, contrary to the principle behind its introduction, the VAR, as being applied at the Africa Cup of Nations, negates the rights of the referee as final arbiter.
A case in point is the application of VAR in deciding the goal scored by South Africa in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations’ quarter final duel. The Moroccan referee, Rédouane Jiyed disallowed the goal, more so when an assistant referee had raised flag for offside position of Bongani Zungu, the scorer.
But at the prompting of VAR, the referee held on for some minutes and later awarded the goal. Unlike it is done in FIFA matches, he did not review the incident by himself at the VAR monitor, he relied solely on the audio information transmitted to him from the VAR.
That was also what happened in other instances of the competition when VAR had to be applied.
FIFA at the end of Russia 2018 released two video
clips on the application of VAR which was used at the competition with minimal
compliant.
First point to be noted is that VAR only assists the referee to clear human errors such as mistaken identity in issuance of cards, possible penalty kicks, verification of goals where there are doubts and also verification of possible penalty kicks.
According to FIFA, there is a three-process
application of VAR. First an incident occurred, such as the goal scored by
South Africa. The referee gets a review advice from VAR operators. Then a
decision or action is taken.
FIFA further revealed that there are two options for the referee. First, he can accept the VAR information. Secondly, he goes to the monitor to visually review the information and then take a decision.
Danny Makklie, the head of VAR at the World Cup in Russia explained that there are four VAR positions. The first is VAR team leader at the operation room.
He watches the match in the upper monitor at the operation room. If there is an incident, he communicates with the referee.
Also in the operation room is AVR 1 who informs the VAR head of an incident that might have escaped the leader. There is AVR2 who watches for offside positions and also looks out for potential offside situations.
He has a replay operator seated next to him to assist in review of situations. There is also AVR3 who is positioned between AVR 1 and AVR 2. He focuses on the TV programme feed and assists in evaluating incidents from the best possible replay angles.
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It is doubtful, if these steps were taken in the VAR incidents so far at the Africa Cup of Nations. The referees merely take decisions from what they were told by VAR. The second step of going to the review monitors have been glaringly absent,
The application of VAR comes to fore if one considers the fact that the final match of the premier continental competition, the CAF Champions League is still embroiled in VAR controversy that has necessitated a replay.
It is not certain, if that replay will still hold after the Africa Cup of Champions.
The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of its flagship competition, with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to expand from 24 to 28 teams.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following an executive committee meeting, describing it as part of the body’s commitment to elevating African football to global standards.
Motsepe said the expansion would create more opportunities for countries across the continent while ensuring that top African players worldwide return home to compete at the highest level.
“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” he stated.
However, the CAF boss did not provide details on how the new 28-team format would be structured or when the expansion would take effect, leaving questions over qualification pathways and tournament scheduling.
Continuity for 2027, New Cycle from 2028
Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, maintaining the current 24-team format for that edition.
In a significant shift, CAF also announced that another AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will move to a four-year cycle—aligning more closely with other major international tournaments.
CAF Nations League Introduced
In addition to AFCON reforms, CAF revealed plans to introduce an African Nations League starting from 2029. The new competition will be held annually, with a 16-team final tournament staged every two years.
The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness, structure and commercial value of the African national team football.
“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said. “We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”
A New Era for African Football
The proposed changes mark one of the most ambitious restructurings of African football competitions in recent years, with CAF seeking to expand participation, enhance organisation and create a more predictable football calendar.
While details are still emerging, the decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for national teams, qualification formats and the overall growth of the game across the continent.
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The Confederation of African Football said it would implement changes and improvements to its statutes and regulations that would ensure that the farcical scenes at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final do not happen again.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the changes would strengthen trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies, but did not give concrete details.
The announcement followed a meeting of CAF’s executive committee in Cairo on Sunday and came on a tumultuous day for the organisation as its general secretary resigned.
African football’s governing body has been battling a crisis of confidence after its Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the Cup of Nations title in a decision that has been met with widespread derision.
Senegal were ruled to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after walking off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned and scored a goal in extra time to win the game 1-0.
The decision is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and if Senegal win back their title it will be a further blow to CAF’s credibility.
“CAF has taken extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices, on and off the field,” Motsepe said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is important for the respect, integrity and credibility of African referees, VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.
“CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners so that they are as good as the best in the world… CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” the CAF president added.
More precise details on the changes and how they would avoid a repeat of the Cup of Nations final controversy were not given by Motsepe, who earlier this month admitted his organisation was struggling with perceptions about its integrity.
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja
The Confederation of African Football may be considering possible disciplinary measures against Senegal following reports that the country’s national team has continued to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy despite being stripped of the title.
The development has triggered fresh debate within African football circles, with CAF understood to be treating the matter as a potential breach of its statutes and disciplinary code.
Sources close to the continental body indicate that Senegal’s actions could be interpreted as defiance of an official ruling, raising concerns about respect for regulatory authority and the precedent such conduct may set for other member associations.
CAF is believed to be weighing a range of sanctions, which could include financial penalties, formal reprimands, or restrictions on the country’s participation in certain CAF programmes and competitions.
While no final decision has been announced, insiders suggest that the governing body is keen to send a strong message on compliance and institutional discipline.
There are also indications that CAF’s disciplinary committee may be tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the continued public display of the trophy, including whether the act constitutes misconduct under its regulations.
The issue is seen as more than a symbolic dispute over silverware. Analysts argue that how CAF handles the situation will reflect its ability to enforce decisions and maintain order among its 54 member associations.
“CAF cannot afford to appear weak on matters of discipline,” a source familiar with the situation said. “If a federation openly disregards a ruling, it undermines the entire governance structure.”
CAF is expected to provide clarity on the issue during an upcoming press engagement, where its president may outline the organisation’s position and any disciplinary steps to be taken.
For Senegal, the situation presents a delicate balancing act between national pride and compliance with continental football authority. For CAF, it represents a critical test of leadership and regulatory enforcement at a time when the credibility of African football governance remains under close watch.
The coming days are likely to determine whether the matter escalates into a full disciplinary case or is resolved through diplomatic engagement behind the scenes.
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