CHAN: McCarthy lauds VAR decision to disallow Angola’s late goal

Kenya national team Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy was happy with the decision by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to disallow Angola’s stoppage time goal during their second fixture Group A of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) at Kasarani Stadium on Thursday.

After Angola took the lead as early as the seventh minute courtesy of forward Jó Paciência, who slotted home a low shot after a well-worked move involving Beni Jetour, Kenya levelled matters from the penalty spot converted by Austin Odhiambo.

The Gor Mahia midfielder was the one brought down inside the box, but the penalty was confirmed after a VAR check. Another VAR incident came when midfielder Marvin Nabwire was sent off in the 21st minute.

But VAR came to Kenya’s rescue in the stoppages when Angola thought they had snatched victory after substitute Kaporal scored from a rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside in a dramatic end to the game.

“In the game, I thought it was a goal, but when the image came back, I saw it was offside. Whoever was on VAR was 100 per cent spot on with the correct decision,” said McCarthy after the game.

“The Angolan player was blocking the defender, which means he was goalside, so he was offside. It would have been a wrong decision that would have cost us three points if the goal was given.”

He added: “I was exhausted. I felt for the players. When you play such a game against a team that knows how to control and move, Angola kept the ball very well and a lot of us are not used to the occasion.

“So there was a lot of panic and a lot of players not being comfortable within themselves to know that you can’t afford to make such mistakes at this level.”

Kenya can now book a historic quarter-final place with a positive result against Morocco.