Yesterday in Niamey, Niger Republic, The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially announced that the service of popular Video Assistant Referee (VAR) would be recruited for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in June.
This invention was widely publicized during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and it has since been adopted by several football bodies for better judgement during a match. Though it was met with mixed reactions from the public but with it’s incessant employment by more football bodies, it does seem like it’s here to stay.
This is however not the first time the design is being used in Africa. It was first used at the quarter-final of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco. Then at the final of CAF Champions League in 2018 between Egypt & Tunisia and also at the Confederation Cup.
The African Cup of Nation (AFRCON), which is Africa’s biggest football tournament runs through June 7 – June 30 2019.