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The VAR did not work in the return leg of the African Champions League on May 31, 2019. Since then, the CAF has worked to ensure that this mishap does not happen again during the CAN 2019. FETHI BELAID / AFP

Video Arbitration Assistance (VAR) will be used in the Africa Cup of Nations starting this July 10th and the quarterfinals of CAN 2019. The last time the VAR was used on the continent, it was in the final of the Champions League, and the device had not worked, generating a huge controversy. The African Football Confederation assures, however, that it has taken the necessary measures.

From our special envoy to Egypt,

This July 10, 2019 will mark a great first in the history of the African Cup of Nations e football. Video Arbitration Support (VAR) will be used from the quarterfinals until the end of CAN 2019 . Senegalese and Beninese will experience this technological evolution, on the occasion of their meeting in Cairo. An innovation that everyone welcomes in its own way.

The Senegalese Salif Sané , who has already known this system during the 2018 World Cup , is skeptical. " I'm not a fan ," the defender says, in a press conference. It can help us as it can penalize us. In any case, we have no choice. We will do with it. But we will not trust the VAR .

The opposing coach, Michel Dussuyer, is more receptive: " I would say that the use of VAR is a plus for football. It corrects injustices, at times. I see it as a positive effect. After, one day it can serve you, and another day it can serve you ... But, basically, I think it is a good progress. I hope jute that it will work until the end and that there will be no technical problems. "

VAR and African football do not always get along well

Since its adoption by the International Football Federation (FIFA), the VAR has not always been good with African football. During the last Men's World Cup, some selections, Morocco in mind, virulently criticized its use, considered biased and dishonest.

More recently, at the Women's World Cup, the Cameroonians objected frontally to the fact that one of their goal was invalidated after using the VAR.

But, the most significant episode, remains the final return of Champions League during which the device did not work. The players of Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), furious that the VAR is not usable to re-view an invalidated goal, refused to resume the match. Esperance Tunis was then declared winner. Then, a few days later, the CAF decided to replay the match, after the CAN 2019.

" We took the risk of using it and it had worked very well until we encountered some difficulties, " said Anthony Baffoe, Deputy Secretary General of CAF changes the development of football.

CAF wants to be reassuring

The subject remains sensitive. CAF has been reassuring throughout CAN 2019. " We have taken all the necessary steps to make it work and to have support ," Baffoe told a press conference early in the morning. the competition. Its very important. The referees who work in the VAR group have been at work for a while . "

" Initially, the VAR was destined for the final ," CAF Secretary General Mouad Hajji recently reminded. But the Executive Committee decided that the device should be used from the quarterfinals . This is already an important step. Because the use of VAR requires equipment but also expertise. We are setting up trainings so that the referees can be VAR approved ".

The head of administration concluded, " I can assure you that everything is going well. All material has been received. Tests have been carried out. [...] Alternatives are provided in case there is a deficiency in one of the systems. But everything is in place. The authorizations of the IFAB [1] are there. So, for now, nothing to report. Everything happens in the best conditions. "

Interview by Antoine Grognet, David Kalfa and Olivier Pron,

[1] The organization that manages and supervises, among other things, the application of the rules of football.

VAR, instructions for use