CAV 1 - 2 NIG: 3 Referee Decisions Against Nigeria That Needed A Look From VAR

 Nigeria took on Cape Verde away from home in a world cup qualifier, the super eagles were without ten of their first team stars for the encounter, eight UK based players were excused from the eagles camp and the duo of Tyrone Ebuehi and Samuel Kalu were unavailable leaving Rohr with just 19 squad players..

Despite the absentees Gernot Rohr still managed to name a strong squad.

Cape Verde got the lead in the 20th minute but they were unable to hold on as Nigeria piled pressure on them, Victor Osimhen equalized in the first half and Cape Verde scored an own goal in the 76th minute giving Nigeria a 2-1 victory.

It was a well contested game but it was marred with some controversial officiating decisions that would have been made easier had VAR been used in the game. Below are three VAR decisions that went against Nigeria.

This happened in the first half as Cape Verde opened the scoring, a Cape Verde midfielder played a through ball from midfield for his teammate to chase down the striker got the ball under control but he appeared to be offside with no flag raised he fired past Nigeria's Maduka Okoye to make it 1-0 in favour of Cape Verde.

The officials decision was no offside but it was a close call and only a VAR review would have clarified the situation, VAR should have been used in this game to help the referee make the right decision.

A Tough Tackle On A Nigeria Player

 and in the process he kicked Awaziem on the head.

The referee didn't catch the incident and so he was unable to make the right decision, no doubt if he had the opportunity to review the incident he would have awarded Nigeria a penalty and red carded the Cape Verde defender.

After watching the game and these Incidents were not properly addressed CAF should step in and introduce VAR, they should emulate Europe and South America in the way they use VAR even in qualifiers.

Cape Verde Goal In The First Half

This happened in the first half as Cape Verde opened the scoring, a Cape Verde midfielder played a through ball from midfield for his teammate to chase down the striker got the ball under control but he appeared to be offside with no flag raised he fired past Nigeria's Maduka Okoye to make it 1-0 in favour of Cape Verde.

The officials decision was no offside but it was a close call and only a VAR review would have clarified the situation, VAR should have been used in this game to help the referee make the right decision.