The head coach of Gabon’s national team has lashed out at the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following his side’s dramatic 4–1 extra-time defeat to Nigeria in the World Cup playoff semi-final, describing the outcome as “deeply unfair.”

Speaking after the match in Rabat, the coach argued that crucial VAR decisions swung the game against Gabon at decisive moments. He insisted that his team had been denied legitimate opportunities while Nigeria benefited from calls that, in his view, lacked consistency. “We played with courage, we fought hard, but the technology was not on our side. What happened tonight was deeply unfair,” he said in a post-match press conference.

The match itself was a tense affair. Gabon held Nigeria to a 1–1 draw in regulation time, forcing extra minutes where Victor Osimhen’s brilliance and Nigeria’s attacking surge sealed the victory. Yet Gabon’s coach maintained that the officiating undermined his team’s efforts, pointing to a disallowed goal and a penalty appeal that was waved away after VAR review.

His comments have sparked debate across African football circles. While some analysts argue that VAR has brought more accuracy to officiating, others believe its implementation in CAF competitions has been inconsistent, leaving room for controversy. For Gabon, the frustration is compounded by the fact that the loss ended their hopes of reaching the intercontinental playoff stage for the 2026 World Cup.

Nigeria, meanwhile, celebrated the victory as a hard-fought triumph, with Osimhen declaring that qualification for the World Cup is “non-negotiable.” The Super Eagles will now face DR Congo in the playoff final, while Gabon’s campaign ends in disappointment and lingering resentment over VAR’s role in their elimination.

This clash of perspectives highlights the growing tension around technology in African football. For Gabon’s coach, the defeat was not just about missed chances—it was about trust in a system that, he believes, failed his team when it mattered most.