CAF Commences VAR for 2026 World Cup Play-offs with Nigeria vs. Gabon
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to introduce the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the upcoming 2026 continental FIFA World Cup play-offs later this month, according to Soccernet.
This marks a significant change from the main qualification phase, where the technology was not utilized, a decision that led to several controversial calls. CAF’s decision ensures that every incident in the play-offs will be thoroughly scrutinized.
Play-off Fixtures
The mini-tournament will feature two semi-final matches, both scheduled for November 13:
* Semi-final 1: Nigeria vs. Gabon
* Semi-final 2: Cameroon vs. DR Congo.
The winners of these two fixtures will advance to the final match, where they will compete for Africa’s sole ticket to the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
