Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has rallied behind calls for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Broos’ charges held the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday night. Themba Zwane gave the visitors a first-half lead, but Fisayo Dele-Bashiru got the equalizer for the home side shortly after the resumption of the second period.
Speaking to the media after the match, the Belgian tactician emphasized the importance of introducing VAR during the current qualifiers as it could be crucial in deciding who gets the all-important flight ticket to the 2026 showpiece in the Americas.
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“Sometimes, or maybe for this kind of games, I think we need VAR,” Broos told reporters in the post-match presser.
“It’s too important. It’s too important. We saw it on AFCON and it was a good thing because there were some decisions that you saw after the VAR if it was right or it was not right.
“We are playing for World Cup Qualifiers. And I think, in such a competition, and for such important games, that we need VAR. We need VAR. We need that.
“But yeah, I think it’s a question of money I don’t know. But there will be sometimes, but I think it’s expensive and I know it from in my country [Belgium] too, so every competition game is with VAR.
“But it’s important, it’s important. Because it can be one goal – it can decide if you don’t go or if you go to the World Cup, so I think it’s usual. We need it.”
Nigeria head coach Finidi George echoed Broos’s statement, stating that there was a goalscoring moment in the game where he thought VAR could’ve intervened.
“I’m sure we all saw the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire where the VAR was properly used,” Finidi recalled.
“Even the Europeans were applauding the AFCON, you know. For me, I don’t know why in (World Cup qualifiers) like this, where everything counts and we couldn’t have a play or incident properly checked to know if a goal is properly scored or not. Chukwueze’s cross which hit the (underneath of the) bar, from where I was standing, I don’t know whether it crossed the line, but if there’s VAR, we would have had the opportunity of having a better view. For me, I’m just a coach and cannot change the rules of FIFA.”
Bafana will now make the long trip back to South Africa as they gear up for another daunting task. They take on Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, June 11.
