AFCON 2021: Caf Committee Makes History, VAR Will Feature in Every Single Match

AFCON 2021: Caf Committee Makes History, VAR Will Feature in Every Single Match

Stefan Mack
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
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  • The Confederation of African Football (Caf) committee has decided that VAR will feature in all 52 matches of AFCON 2021
  • This is the first time in history that VAR will feature in all AFCON matches, previously VAR has only been used from the quarter-final stage of the competition
  • The use of the VAR is believed to improve the perception of refereeing and help develop the talent pool on the African continent

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) committee has decided that VAR will feature in all 52 matches played in Cameroon.

This is a historic first for the competition. Previously, VAR has only been implanted in the quarter-finals since the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

AFCON 2021, Caf, VAR, Cameroon
Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football has decided that all 52 matches will feature VAR. Photo credit: Image: Fadel Senna/ AFP
Source: Getty Images

The purpose of introducing VAR in all matches is an attempt to improve the perception of refereeing and help develop refereeing talent on the continent.

63 top officials will preside over the 52 matches being played in this year's Africa Cup of Nations according to Sowetan Live.

Of the 63 officials, 24 are referees, 31 are assistant referees and eight are video assistant referees. The officials hail from 36 different countries and two of the referees hail from the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football).

AFCON 2021:Black Stars finally touch down in Cameroon ahead of competition

In similar news, SportsBrief.com reported that the senior national team of Ghana, the Black Stars, have touched down in the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé ahead of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The team led by Andre Ayew immediately went to their hotel as preparations continue ahead of their Group C opener against Morocco on Monday, January 10, 2021.

In photos posted on Twitter, the contingent was without Kamaldeen Sulemana, Philemon Baffuor and Mohammed Kudus.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac lament over late arrival of players

Earlier, SportsBrief.com reported that, head coach of the senior national team of Ghana, Milovan Rajevac has blamed FIFA's decision to allow players join camp on January 3, for the team's haphazard preparations.

FIFA extended the date for players to arrive in camp from December 28 to January 3, just six days to AFCON following reluctance by clubs to release players.

Milovan Rajevac, in an interview with the Ghana Football Association's media explained the directive affected preparations.

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