After a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Burkina Faso on Saturday in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has taken the unprecedented step of filing an official protest. The controversy revolves around a malfunction in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, administered by Gabonese official Atcho Pierre Ghislain.
The Stade de la Paix in Bouaké witnessed a dramatic encounter that has now prompted the FAF to formally appeal the perceived VAR irregularities.
In the aftermath of the match, President Walid Sadi revealed that the FAF expressed deep concerns about the VAR system’s failure to function throughout the game.
Sadi emphasized that all contentious situations were brought to the attention of Véron Monsengo-Omba, the Secretary General of the African Confederation (CAF), who reportedly expressed surprise at the reported malfunction.
The FAF backed its appeal with compelling evidence, including photographic and video documentation, to substantiate their claims.
While the VAR successfully scrutinized the first Burkinabè goal before half-time, questions arise about its functionality during the pivotal moments of the match, especially in evaluating a potential handball by Steve Yago in the box late in the game.
Djamel Belmadi, the coach of the Algerian national team, expressed his dissatisfaction in the post-match press conference, highlighting a missed handball call. He remarked, “There was an obvious hand in the open area; it was a blatant penalty, I would like to point that out.”
With two draws in as many matches, Algeria faces a must-win situation in their upcoming fixture against Mauritania to harbor hopes of advancing to the Round of 16.
While the likelihood of the appeal succeeding remains uncertain, the symbolic gesture underscores Algeria’s commitment to fair play and the integrity of the game.
