CAF orders replay of Champions League final Esperance won “controversially”

The Confederation of African Football has ordered for a replay of this year’s Champions League final after Tunisian side Esperance won it controversially.

In a final played a week ago, Wydad Cassablanca from Algeria complained that Video Assistant Referee technology wasn’t working after match officials claimed that there were some technical issues.

The VAR screen eventually got back up and running before the break when Wydad scored an equalizer which was flagged offside, the VAR screen was mysteriously smashed.

This was the final straw for the Algerian side as they refused the match from continuing and after an hour of waiting to get VAR to work again but in vain, the centre referee blew the final whistle that saw Esperance declared African champions.

Wydad Cassablanca later petitioned against the decision.

On Wednesday, the continent football governing body’s executive committee ruled that conditions of the game and safety were not met during the second leg game preventing it from ending.

CAF therefore, ordered for a replay of the second leg of the finals at a neutral ground to be able to get an outright winner.

“Consequently, the second leg match must be replayed on another ground outside Tunisian territory,” CAF ordered.

The football governing body consequently ordered Esperance to return both the trophy and medals they were awarded after the controversial final.

The 1-1 draw from the first leg in Morocco however stands.