Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has expressed misgivings over some of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
Rohr is adamant that VAR was not correctly applied by referee Rédouane Jiyed, during the 2-1 win over South Africa in the quarter-final, as goalscorer Bongani Zungu was in an offside position when the free-kick was played by Percy Tau in the 71st minute.
The ball floated into the box and came off the back of Odion Ighalo, before Bafana Bafana got their equaliser.
And in yesterday’s semi-final clash against Algeria, Ighalo made it 1-1 in the 73rd minute after referee Bakary Gassama consulted with the VAR before awarding a penalty.
“The other day it was against us in the game against South Africa, we waited long before we conceded a goal finally.
“I think the interpretation of the VAR is not easy because it was not a pass from a player, it was a deflected ball and the offside position was there so it’s not easy for people to make good interpretation of the VAR.
“Today, I didn’t see what happened like my colleague but it’s a step for more justice in football,” Rohr told reporters.
VAR was introduced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from the quarter-final stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
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