VAR arrives in Africa’s World Cup qualifiers playoffs and Nigeria may be one of its biggest beneficiaries.
The qualification route for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has taken a turn that may well favour the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that for the first time the playoff round of African qualification will employ the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system and Nigeria has been identified as one of the teams set to be significantly affected.
The use of VAR at this stage of African qualifiers marks a milestone. CAF’s announcement states that full VAR coverage will be implemented in the playoff tournament that determines which African side advances toward the World Cup’s final qualification phases. For Nigeria, this means the margins for refereeing errors will shrink and the outcome of crucial matches may tilt more on performance rather than mis-calls.
According to the report, the Super Eagles are likely to face Gabon national football team in the semi-final stage of the African play-off tournament, with the victor to take on either Cameroon national football team or DR Congo national football team for the continent’s final ticket toward the global showpiece.
The introduction of VAR could play out in several ways for Nigeria. On the positive side, the Eagles have suffered in previous campaigns from contentious decisions that went un-reviewed goals cancelled, fouls missed, and off-sides overlooked. For instance, a legitimate goal by Ademola Lookman was ruled out wrongly in earlier competition, and similarly unpunished challenges on Victor Osimhen.
However, with VAR in place, Nigeria’s players and technical staff will need to adjust. Tactical discipline, precision in decision-making and match management become even more critical when every off-side, hand-ball and tackle may be reviewed. The reduced room for error means that performances must be sharper and strategy more rigorous.
For fans and stakeholders of the Super Eagles, this development offers renewed hope. After missing the last World Cup tournament, the possibility of reaching the showpiece again has been given a tangible boost. That said, the new technology and format do not automatically guarantee qualification; the squad must deliver on the pitch.
In short: CAF’s decision to introduce VAR at the playoff phase is a major upgrade in Africa’s World Cup qualifying process, and Nigeria stands to benefit significantly. But only if they seize the moment and convert the opportunity into results. Stay with Hot Sports Scoops for exclusive Nigerian-focused sports coverage — home and abroad.