“We are going to have VAR used in the group stage of the club competitions, both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup,” Adamu said.
That is a change of scale. VAR has been a knockout-stage tool in African club football, reserved for the later rounds when the fixtures are fewer and the venues can be prepared. Putting it on from the groups means every matchday of the two competitions, not only the quarter-finals and beyond.
Adamu also answered two other questions. On a man-of-the-match award from the group stage, rather than only in the final, he said CAF will work on it and that an update will come soon. On the away-goal rule, he said the Club Competitions Committee will review all the important rules, with an update to follow in due time. He did not say the rule will go. He said it will be looked at.
The three answers are different in weight. VAR in the groups is a decision. The individual award is a commitment to work on it. The away-goal rule is a review, not a verdict. African club ties have been settled by away goals for years, and any change would alter how first legs are played. Adamu left that with the committee.
Micky Junior described the acting general secretary as respectful and direct. The substance is in the three replies: VAR from the groups in both competitions, a man-of-the-match award under consideration earlier in the tournament, and the away-goal rule sent to the Club Competitions Committee. The first is happening. The other two are still to be confirmed.