The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided that the African Champions League final will be replayed after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, following the controversial incidents that occurred during the second leg in Radès. The decision comes in response to confusion and disputes surrounding the use of VAR, which malfunctioned during the match and sparked widespread criticism.
CAF president Ahmad Ahmad addressed the issue in an interview with France Football on Friday, explaining that the governing body had no alternative but to order the replay. “I tried to reason with everyone. In vain… I even received threats from the president of Espérance (Hamdi Meddeb). He exclaimed, ‘Do you want a revolution?’ What could I do?” Ahmad said.
The CAF president also highlighted the inconsistencies in the implementation of VAR across African competitions. “Since last year, VAR has been working everywhere in our competitions, except in Tunisia! I doubt that’s a coincidence. We can no longer tolerate these excesses, this confusion caused by the VAR malfunction. The first leg already caused problems, and the referee was suspended. So, CAF is determined to take very serious measures,” he added.
The decision to replay the final underscores CAF’s commitment to ensuring fairness and integrity in its competitions, particularly at the highest level of African club football. By addressing the VAR-related controversies and taking decisive action, the governing body aims to restore confidence in the tournament and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The replayed final, scheduled after the 2019 AFCON, will allow both Wydad Casablanca and Espérance de Tunis to contest the title under clear and regulated conditions. CAF’s firm stance on the matter signals its determination to enforce accountability and uphold the credibility of African football at the continental level.
