In a contentious moment during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D opener, Benin was potentially denied a crucial penalty due to a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) malfunction. The incident occurred in the second half of their match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), which ended in a 1-0 victory for the Congolese side.
According to reports from Foot Africa, VAR was unavailable for approximately fifteen minutes during the second half of the match. During this period, a handball by DR Congo defender Chancel Mbemba inside the penalty area went unnoticed by the on-field officials. Under normal circumstances, VAR would have reviewed the play to determine if a penalty was warranted. However, the technical glitch prevented such a review, leaving Benin’s players and coaching staff visibly frustrated .
The absence of VAR at such a critical juncture has sparked discussions about the reliability of technology in high-stakes tournaments. While DR Congo secured the win, the controversy surrounding the unawarded penalty has cast a shadow over the match’s outcome.
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