AFCON 2021: Strict Referee Victor Gomes' Performance Sets Social Media Alight... Again

AFCON 2021: Strict Referee Victor Gomes' Performance Sets Social Media Alight... Again

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
  • The frightening Victor Gomes was the centre of another social media storm for his handling of the crucial match between Algeria and Ivory Coast at the 2021 African Cup of Nations
  • Gomes, who was in charge of the 2019 editions final, awarded a hotly disputed penalty among other things as the Elephants defeated the Fennec Foxes 3-1
  • His performance was 'either or' among fans, with many praising him for resoluteness, while others saw it as being overzealous

Strict, no-nonsense South African referee Victor Gomes was once again the centre of debate and attention for his performance at the 2021 African Cup of Nations.

Gomes was in charge of a humdinger between defending champions Algeria and Ivory Coast in a crucial Group E face-off. The match did not disappoint, with the Elephants sending the Fennec Foxes home after slapping them convincingly 3-1.

afcon, african cup of nations, cameroon, 2021, group e, algeria, ivory coast, serge aurier, victor gomes, penalty, riyadh mahrez
South African referee Victor Gomes lays down the law between Ivory Coast and Algeria. Charly Triballeau/Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Those who watched the match were most definitely not neutral on social media about what they thought of Gomes' effort judging by the war zone that was social media.

@straightmarvin said:

"Victor Gomes embarrassing South Africa. That was not a penalty."

@chimzy301 said:

"The officiating at AFCON 2021 was going well and then in came Victor Gomes..."

Sibusiso Mthombeni said:

"When he's on CAF assignments he's brilliant, he does get overzealous and gets carried away when he's officiating PSL games, though..."

Christopher Blakk said:

"Hate him all you want, but Mr Gomes is the best in Africa. Never intimidated, never threatened, never influenced and never afraid. Mr No-Nonsense for a reason."

Vusi Khumalo said:

"He didn't disappoint, dishing out those yellows in the first 14 mins of the game and a penalty later on. They were really testing his patience. I love the way he officiates. Our best who sometimes adds his nice flavour in the beautiful game."

AFCON 2021: Algeria bows out after 3-1 hammering by Ivory Coast

Reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Algeria have bowed out of the 2021 edition of the tournament following their 3-1 defeat to Ivory Coast in their final Group E fixture.

he Desert Foxes needed nothing short of victory during the Thursday evening, January 20, encounter for a chance to progress to the next round of the continental tournament.

As reported on Sports Brief, this was after they kicked off the competition on a frustrating note, managing just a point in two of their opening fixtures.

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Keba Mothoagae
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