Benin have been left annoyed by their 1-0 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday after a late handball within the penalty space couldn’t be reviewed on account of a VAR malfunction.
The 2 sides met of their opening Group D fixture on the Africa Cup of Nations, with Theo Bongonda’s early aim proving decisive after he capitalised on a defensive error by Benin’s Yohan Roche.
The Spartak Moscow winger beat Saturnin Allagbe with a composed end after Roche ducked beneath an extended ball from Arthur Masuaku, permitting Bongonda to information a first-time volley into the underside right-hand nook from 10 yards.
Actual Betis ahead Cedric Bakambu thought he had doubled DRC’s lead early within the second half, however after a prolonged VAR evaluation his close-range header was dominated out for offside within the build-up.
Regardless of VAR being out there for that incident, additional issues plagued the system later within the half when DRC captain Chancel Mbemba appeared to make use of his arm to dam a cross into the field.
The ball flies over Benin defender Olivier Verdon’s head earlier than it seems to land on Democratic Republic of Congo captain Chancel Mbemba’s arm late on within the match
Replays have been inconclusive as as to whether the ball struck the previous Newcastle defender’s arm or shoulder, whereas referee Abongile Tom was unable to evaluation the incident on the monitor
Though tv replays have been inconclusive over whether or not the ball struck the previous Newcastle United defender’s arm or shoulder, referee Abongile Tom was nonetheless unable to evaluation the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Officers later acknowledged that the incident couldn’t be checked on account of VAR malfunctioning, leaving the Benin camp livid.
‘We witnessed an excellent soccer match that didn’t deserve a loser,’ Benin head coach Gernot Rohr instructed journalists after the defeat. ‘My crew made me proud.
‘We’ll now put together properly for the match towards Botswana, with the benefit of getting our suspended gamers again.’
Benin will look to get their AFCON marketing campaign up and working on Saturday, with Botswana having misplaced their opening group recreation 3-0 to Senegal.
In the meantime, VAR was operational once more for Burkina Faso’s match towards Equatorial Guinea, through which Equatorial Guinea’s Basilio Ndong was despatched off for a raking problem after his yellow card was upgraded to a pink following a pitchside evaluation.
