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VAR to Kenya’s rescue again, ‘mwah, mwah’, goes McCarthy
What you need to know:
- It is the first time in history that VAR, a technology that aims to improve officiating in football, is being used on Kenyan soil.
- After the match, some Harambee Stars players gathered around the screen on the touchline the referee used to review decisions.
Sudden collapse and then wild celebration.
That was the scene at the death at a packed 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani in Nairobi during the dramatic Group 'A' clash of the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) between Kenya’s Harambee Stars, and Angola’s Palancas Negras on Thursday evening.
As millions of Kenyans, emotions raw from the 90 minutes roller-coaster, revelled in the hard-fought 1-1 draw, one sentiment rang true among them – the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was almost godsend in this match, at least as far as Harambee Stars were concerned. Even the team’s coach Benni McCarthy echoed the view.
“…VAR mwah!” exclaimed a delighted McCarthy at the mixed zone after the match: “Beautiful! Beautiful,” he added.
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy issues instructions from the touchline during Kenya's match against Angola in a Group 'A' fixture of the 2024 African Nations Championships at Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 7, 2025.
VAR made its Chan debut during the sixth edition held in Cameroon in 2021. However, it was deployed from the quarter-finals stage. It is the first time in history that VAR, a technology that aims to improve officiating in football, is being used on Kenyan soil.
With Harambee Stars reduced to 10 men after 21 minute following a red card on midfielder Marvin Nabwire, a draw against Angola looked a very acceptable result for the home team.
And so as the home players fought tooth and nail to salvage a point in the tough match, the thousands of enthusiastic supporters, emotions frayed, backing them up. Mission look accomplished at the last minute of time added on, then the unimaginable happened.
Angola launched a counter attack, with Joao Chigando scoring with a header. Having struggled to restore their lead against a numerically inferior opponent, the Palanca Negras erupted in wild celebrations while Harambee Stars players slumped on the pitch deflated. A deathly silence engulfed Kasarani you would have heard a pin drop.
But, phew, a VAR review was called and centre referee Sadou Ali cancelled the goal for an offside.
As the frustrated Angolan players and technical bench scratched their heads in disbelief, it was the turn of Kenyan players to erupt in celebration. They had rescued a point, gone top of the table and earned Sh500,000 each from the reward pledged by President William Ruto
Kenya had also earlier benefited from a VAR decision when they were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute.
Kenya's Marvin Nabwire (right) receive form referee Sadou Ali during the 2024 African Nations Championship Group 'A' match against Angola at Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 7, 2025.
The review confirmed that Austine Odhiambo had been fouled in the box. The attacking midfielder duly stepped up to slam the penalty home.
But VAR decisions were not all in Kenya’s favour.
Marvin Nabwire was sent off in the 21st minute following a VAR review.
The Kenya Police player had fouled Alberto Miguel, denying him a goal scoring opportunity. “Those were two moments (foul on Odhiambo and the offside goal) that I completely missed,” said McCarthy will lauding organisers for using VAR.
After the match, some Harambee Stars players gathered around the screen on the touchline the referee used to review decisions, with few even kissing the electronic set in appreciation.
In Kenya’s 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday last week at MISC, VAR again came to the rescue of Harambee Stars.
DRC had taken the lead in the fourth minute through Jephte Bola. However, the goal was canceled after a VAR review showed that Bola had fouled defender Abud Omar before scoring the goal.
Similar to Thursday's match, that decision was widely cheered by the home fans. Austine Odhiambo scored the match’s winning goal at the stroke of halftime.
