AFCON
VAR CONTROVERSY RAGES AT AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
The introduction of the VAR has brought confusion to the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria’s coach saying he cannot understand what constitutes accidental or intentional handball after three contentious incidents in the semi-finals.
Algeria’s 2-1 win over Nigeria and Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Tunisia both featured handball incidents, one of which has led to Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly — one of Africa’s top players — missing Friday’s final through suspension.
VAR has only been used since the quarter-finals of the competition and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has brought in two European referees to support the system based on their experience with it.
“We had a meeting before the tournament with the referees and they explained to us more or less how it works. I still don’t understand the decisions….handball, whether it’s voluntary or not voluntary, this is what I don’t understand today,” Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi said.
Algeria were leading Nigeria 1-0 when Oghenekaro Etebo’s shot struck Aissa Mandi’s arm.
Play continued for nearly one minute before there was a break, the incident was reviewed and Nigeria were awarded a penalty which Odion Ighalo converted nearly four minutes after the offence took place.
Mandi did not seem to move his arm and may have been unsighted as he was standing behind Ighalo who ducked at the last minute.
Meanwhile, Tunisia had one penalty awarded and one revoked for handball against Senegal, who were also given a penalty for a foul. Both spot-kicks were missed.
In the first incident, Ferjani Sassi’s shot was blocked by Koulibaly who turned his back as he slid into the path of the shot which struck his elbow.
The referee awarded a penalty and booked the Napoli centre back who will miss the final through the accumulation of yellow cards.
However, when a Senegal player’s headed clearance ricocheted off Idrissa Gueye’s elbow in extra-time, the referee initially gave Tunisia another penalty before overturning his decision after reviewing video footage.
“I didn’t see the action in our match, but I saw the action Tunisia against Senegal and I say it’s about the interpretation and the rules,” Belmadi said.
In contrast to the semi-finals, the 36 group stage and eight round of 16 matches, where VAR was not used, did not feature a single penalty awarded for handball.
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has seen it from both sides. Although his side benefited on Sunday, they were on the wrong end in their quarter-final when a South Africa goal, initially disallowed for offside, was awarded following a VAR review.
“The other day it was against us, in the game against South Africa we waited long minutes to finally concede a goal,” said Rohr. “I think the interpretation of VAR is not easy…but I think it’s a step for more justice in football.”
- Reuters
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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