The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has concluded plans to launch a Video Assistant Referee (“VAR”) Academy for all the 54 member associations.
The move is aimed at elevating the standard of officiating in Africa.
The innovative academy is set to be rolled out between September and October, 2024.
The academy will train Elite Referees across the continent for international competitions and national championships on the use of VAR and ensure that Africa continue to produce elite referees, as seen in recent times.
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CAF Technical Development Director, Raul Chipenda said the VAR Academy Programme is a practical step by CAF to improve the standard of match officiating in Africa and ensure that African referees are equipped to compete against the best in the world.
“In the last few months, CAF has had a strong bias in upskilling match officials on the usage of VAR that is why at the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, our officials were rated amongst the best. But it does not help having a small group, we need a big pool.
“Officiating plays a critical role in the development of African football, as evidently seen in the success of the recent AFCON.
“CAF actively oversees and supports a number of football development programmes and competitions across Africa and with that said, it is equally vital that match officials across Africa are adequately equipped with the latest officiating technology, means and education in order to remain on par with the existing pool of officials on the continent”, said Chipenda.
