African Referees Prepare For VAR Debut In CAF’s Top Club Competitions
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) will hold a training programme for referees and match officials in Cairo, Egypt, at the end of October as it prepares to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in its two leading club competitions.
The training will precede the group stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, where VAR is scheduled to make its debut at that level in November 2026. As a result, the programme will concentrate on ensuring that officials understand how to operate the system and follow the required match protocols.
Beyond familiarising referees with the technology, the initiative seeks to strengthen their ability to handle decisive incidents during games. VAR can assist match officials in reviewing certain key decisions and, in turn, help reduce errors that could affect match outcomes.
Furthermore, the move reflects CAF’s broader efforts to raise officiating standards and improve the credibility of its continental tournaments. Effective implementation will depend not only on the technology itself but also on officials’ training, consistent procedures and proper use of the system.
With the group stages approaching, the Cairo programme is expected to prepare match officials for the planned rollout and support CAF’s drive to improve the overall standard of African club football.
