VAR rule means Youssef En-Nesyri gets goal from subs bench in unprecedented AFCON moment

VAR provided one of the most bizarre spectacles of AFCON so far by awarding Morocco a third goal against Tanzania long after the player had scored, meaning he had to celebrate from the bench

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Sport

Kasra Moradi Senior Sports Journalist

22:55, 17 Jan 2024Updated 00:50, 18 Jan 2024

Youssef En-Nesyri was awarded a goal while already off the pitch(Image: Sky Sports)

Youssef En-Nesyri’s goal for Morocco at AFCON was shockingly awarded when he was already off the pitch.

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The Sevilla striker scored Morocco’s final goal in their 3-0 win over Tanzania on Wednesday. It marked the Atlas Lions’ opening win of the tournament in Ivory Coast, with Romain Saiss and Azzedine Ounahi also getting on the scoresheet.

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En-Nesyri fired home the third after a stunning ball from Achraf Hakimi found him open in the opposition box. But the 26-year-old’s strike was not awarded without some classic AFCON drama first.

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Moroccan celebrations came to a halt as the goal was ruled out for offside, with the assistant referee waving his flag and the player wagging his finger in disbelief. En-Nesyri was promptly taken off by manager Walid Regragui along with Hakim Ziyech and Ounahi, seemingly yet to open his account at the tournament.

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He had enough time to walk off the pitch and even sit on the bench before VAR finally reached its decision. And after a lengthy wait, the referee pointed to the centre circle to award a goal, sparking wild scenes.

Have you ever seen a goal awarded like this before? Let us know in the comments section below

The striker scored the winner for Morocco against Tanzania(Image: Sky Sports)

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The referee took his sweet time to award the goal(Image: Sky Sports)

Morocco’s bench were ecstatic as they all surrounded and jumped on the forward to celebrate with him. And fans on social media were equally amazed as they took to X to voice their astonishment.

One user wrote: "Is that a first? The VAR review for a goal by Morocco’s En-Nesyri took so long that he was subbed off before it was awarded and celebrated sat on the bench…"

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The Morocco squad celebrated from the bench(Image: Sky Sports)

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Another tweeted: "En-Nesyri scored, got flagged offside, got substituted, VAR reviewed the goal and ruled it onside. He scored from the bench. You’re never seeing anything like this at Copa or Euros, only at the greatest international tournament in the world."

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A third added: "Hahahaha goal awarded to En-Nesyri while on the bench, just VAR stuff," while a fourth chimed in with: "Unbelievable scenes."