The bitter defeat to Ghana in Cape Coast meant South Africa have lost out in the Qatar FIFA world cup play-offs and it was never a good thing to write home about. In their bid to defend their name after losing to a better side on the day, South Africa channeled they unacceptable defeat to blame the center referee who awarded a penalty to Ghana after Daniel Amartey was brought down.
With a protest launched by SAFA, it was therefore incumbent on South African FA to show that the Senegalese referee, Maguette Ndiay had malicious intent when he pointed to the spot after Amartey had gone down and also within a time frame as stipulated by the rules governing football redress.
South Africa demanded on Monday, November 15, that a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ghana be replayed after a contentious penalty cost them a spot in the African playoffs. Ahead of the final group game, Bafana Bafana were three points clear at the top of Group G heading into the last group game, needing only to avoid loss against Ghana to win a place in the World Cup play-offs next year. Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiay would call for a foul by Rushine De Reuck on Daniel Amartey in the 33rd minute of the deciding match against Ghana. Andre Ayew went up to score the game’s sole goal from the penalty spot.
The South African Football Association refused to accept defeat in such a contentious manner and quickly filed a protest against referee Maguette Ndiay. SAFA petitioned FIFA to have the match replayed at a neutral ground. The opening paragraph of SAFA’s complaint to FIFA reads;
“We wish to formally record our complaint and protest concerning the wrongful and unlawful conduct of the match referee and other officials, concerning match fixing, match manipulation including corruption and bribery in respect of the game between Ghana and South Africa played in Ghana on the 14th November 2021”
However, the Ghana Football association in a response, claimed that the aforementioned allegation is frivolous and must be treated with the contempt it deserves.”
In response to the allegations levied against Ghana for conniving with the referee among other hard treatments metted on team South Africa prior to the game, the Ghana Football Association responded saying,
“We wish to state categorically that the allegations are frivolous, baseless and lacks merit and should be treated with all the contempt. These allegations from South Africa Football Association are nothing but a planned scheme and a calculated attempt to shift focus from the defeat, divert attention from their failure to qualify for the playoffs and unjustly dent the hard-earned victory of the Black Stars. As a good sporting Association, we know that Bafana Bafana gave it their all but lost to a better team (and must be forthright to tell the South African public this). We wish Bafana Bafana and our colleagues at SAFA better luck next time”
After the long wait and with all available evidence provided by South Africa considered, FIFA rubbished they claims of false play and handed back their protest to them as was sent to the world football governing body.
SAFA who seem unsatisfied with the ruling had been rumoured to be looking to readdress the through a different medium while FIFA sets the date for Ghana among other qualified teams to the Qatar FIFA world cup play-offs.
I am a young and vibrant sports journalist from Ghana, a member of the Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana(SWAG), and working with Sports Preview Ghana and sports reporting outfit poised to bring all the latest and trending sports news around the globe.
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