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.
RELATED STORIES: https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2019/07/11/gernot-rohr-lashes-out-var-delay-at-afcon-2019/
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.
AFCON
Nigerians, other nationals can apply, as CAF and Morocco Launch Volunteer Programme for AFCON 2025
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Morocco have launched the official Volunteer Programme for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, billed to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
According to CAF, more than 4,000 volunteers will be recruited to play a central role in ensuring the success of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, which will be staged across six cities and nine stadiums in Morocco.
Applications are now open at volunteers.cafonline.com and will close on 8 October 2025. The opportunity is open to anyone above the age of 18.
Volunteers will be deployed across multiple functional areas, including media operations, spectator services, accreditation, hospitality, and fan engagement. Selected individuals will receive professional training ahead of the competition and work behind the scenes to deliver a memorable AFCON.
CAF stated that the programme is designed not only to support tournament operations but also to create an alumni network of skilled Africans who can contribute to future sporting events across the continent. Successful applicants will benefit from:
- Training and skill development.
- Official uniforms and certificates of participation.
- Networking opportunities with peers and professionals.
- The chance to contribute to Africa’s football legacy.
Volunteer registration opened on 17 September 2025. Selection and training will take place in October and November, with operations commencing in mid-December through to the tournament’s conclusion on 18 January 2026.
CAF described the initiative as an “exciting opportunity” for Africans to contribute to the growth of the continent’s flagship sporting event, which is expected to draw millions of visitors to Morocco.
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AFCON
CAF Security Chief, Nigeria’s Emeruwa, Leads Inspection of Tangier Stadium Ahead of Major Tournaments
Nigeria’s Dr. Christian Emeruwa, President of the Security and Safety Division of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Thursday, September 18, led an inspection visit to the Grand Stade de Tangier as preparations intensify for upcoming continental and global football events.
Emeruwa, who heads CAF’s continental security architecture, was joined by CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba, senior Moroccan officials, and executives of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The delegation also included managers of operational companies at the Grand Stade and SONARGES executives.
According to Le 360, the Nigerian official expressed satisfaction with the stadium’s facilities after touring key operational areas, including the main control room with its giant surveillance screen, as well as spectator, player, and VIP access zones.
The inspection was bolstered by the presence of Morocco’s top security and administrative officers—the regional commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, officials of the Auxiliary Forces and Civil Protection, the Wali of Security, the governor in charge of Internal Affairs, and representatives of the National Agency for Public Equipment (ANEP).
A technical meeting followed the tour, where engineers presented recent safety and security upgrades. Among the highlights was the planned installation of a FIFA-standard tarpaulin roof to enhance the venue’s compliance with global hosting requirements.
For Nigeria, the spotlight on Dr. Emeruwa underscores the country’s growing influence in African football administration, particularly in the critical areas of safety and security management for CAF competitions.
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Morocco has received 723 high-end buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off on December 21.
Yutong said on social media that the fleet “has officially rolled off the production line” and will provide “comprehensive transport services and reliable operational support” during the tournament.
An official handover ceremony was held on Friday at the company’s facility in Zhengzhou, Henan province, attended by Moroccan representatives and Yutong executives.
The buses were designed to cope with Morocco’s terrain and climate, including steep slopes, heat and sandstorms. They feature an independent front axle suspension to navigate narrow city streets and Yutong’s in-house “Blue Core System” for fuel efficiency.
The delivery is the largest single order of Chinese buses in Africa. Yutong will station more than 100 technicians in Morocco to provide training, maintenance and round-the-clock support during AFCON.
The deal is part of Morocco’s broader transport strategy, which includes plans to purchase 7,000 new buses by 2030—half of them electric—as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
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