The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be used during the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs matches, scheduled to take place later this month.
This marks the first time VAR will be deployed in Africa’s World Cup qualification playoffs, signaling a new era of officiating transparency and fairness across the continent.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to resume their campaign for a 2026 World Cup ticket when they take on Gabon in the playoff semi-final on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria advanced to the playoffs after finishing second in Group C, but qualified as one of the best second-placed teams. They will compete in a four-team mini-tournament that also features DR Congo and Cameroon, with the winners of both semi-finals meeting in the final to determine Africa’s final representative for the 2026 global showpiece.
CAF decision to implement VAR for the playoffs is seen as a major step toward ensuring fair play and minimizing controversial officiating errors that have marred several qualification games in the past.
The introduction of VAR could prove decisive for Nigeria. During the main qualifiers, the absence of VAR saw several contentious moments go unchecked including Calvin Bassey’s goal against South Africa, which may have been disallowed for handball if the technology had been available.
On the other hand, the Super Eagles have also been victims of poor officiating. In August, striker Victor Osimhen sustained an injury following a reckless challenge from a Rwandan defender an incident that would likely have resulted in a red card under VAR review.
With VAR now in play, every key moment from offside calls to penalty appeals will undergo detailed video review, potentially changing the course of matches.
Nigeria will be hoping the system works in their favor as they seek to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Football analysts believe that the introduction of VAR could restore confidence among African teams and fans, ensuring that results are determined purely by performance rather than officiating errors.
