AFCON 2025l Fallout: VAR Recordings May Alter Outcome Of Controversial Final

AFCON 2025 Fallout: VAR Recordings May Alter Outcome Of Controversial Final

Sampson Adedeji

Fresh developments have emerged from the fallout of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, with revelations in the early hours of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, indicating that the case has now moved beyond the investigation phase into a decisive stage, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to Egyptian journalist Kinan Moutaraji, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Technical Committee has listened to audio recordings of the communication between centre referee Ndala and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room during the controversial 18-minute stoppage that marred the final.

The recordings reportedly contain a critical statement made by referee Ndala in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

In the audio, the official is quoted as saying: “They’ve decided to withdraw, I’ll end the match.”

However, the referee was allegedly instructed via his earpiece by officials from the CAF competitions committee to delay ending the match and wait, a development that has now raised serious legal and procedural concerns.

Legal experts following the case believe the recordings could be pivotal if authenticated.

The evidence would suggest that the match was legally concluded by the referee’s decision at that moment, while events that followed could be deemed outside the framework of the laws of the game.

With the matter now at the decision-making stage, sources close to the investigation indicate that CAF faces a critical period in determining the final outcome of the case.

 The coming days are expected to be decisive, as this emerging evidence could significantly reshape the narrative and final ruling surrounding one of the most controversial AFCON finals in recent history.