Algeria can consider itself happy to have achieved a draw against Burkina Faso (2-2) on the second day of this 2024 African Cup of Nations. But the Fennecs want more. The Algerian Football Federation has filed a complaint with the African Football Confederation regarding the refereeing of the match which was already decisive for the qualification of the two teams.
“The Algerian Football Federation has officially lodged a complaint with the African Football Confederation regarding the provision of refereeing during the Algeria – Burkina Faso match,” writes the FAF in its press release. Main target of the Algerian Federation: the appointment of the referee. “The FAF does not understand why the CAF Refereeing Commission appoints the same VAR referee as during the first match, which raises legitimate questions about the inappropriateness of such a designation,” criticizes the FAF.
“An obvious hand”
In addition to pointing the finger at the referee, the FAF links this choice with two VAR errors committed, according to the federation, to the disadvantage of its national team, in the 10th and 57th minute of the match. Coach Djamel Belmadi deplored a blatant error with an “obvious hand” in the penalty area at the end of the match. “The FAF’s complaint is based on verifiable facts to which the responsible referees must respond,” it is written in the press release.
???? Walid Sadi, the president of the FAF, filed a complaint with the CAF, against the video assistance referee (VAR), in this case the Gabonese Atcho Pierre Ghislain, who did not flinched from obvious penalty situations against Burkina – Faso… pic.twitter.com/Sm3zCSinyJ
— La Gazette du Fennec (@LGDFennec) January 20, 2024
The Algerian Federation is not, however, demanding to replay the match, but “hopes for intervention so that the refereeing is of a better level and up to the prestigious continental competition. » Enough to put pressure on the referee of Algeria-Mauritania, poster of the last day in group D decisive for the competition. The Fennecs absolutely must win to obtain a ticket for the round of 16.
