SAFA has lodged an official complaint after Bafana Bafana’s 2022 Soccer World Cup hopes were dashed by a controversial penalty against Ghana.
BREAKING: SAFA confirm their decision on the Ghana-Bafana Bafana officiating, will they appeal or not?
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has seemingly confirmed their decision on the Ghana vs Bafana Bafana dubious officiating.
SAFA has lodged an official complaint after Bafana Bafana’s 2022 Soccer World Cup hopes were dashed by a controversial penalty against Ghana.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has seemingly confirmed their decision on the Ghana vs Bafana Bafana dubious officiating.
Ghana were awarded a controversial penalty by Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye which was converted by the Black Stars who ultimately knocked Bafana Bafana out of the World Cup Qualifiers for 2022 Qatar World Cup.
How the penalty against Bafana Bafana occurred
The penalty came from a Ghanaian corner which saw the ball finding its way all the way to Daniel Amartey in the Bafana Bafana box. With just the merest of touches on the shoulder from Mamelodi Sundowns defender Rushine de Reuck, the Leicester City utility player went down to the ground in the most theatrical fashion imaginable, with Ndiaye pointing to the spot immediately.
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with Andre Ayew, who was earning his landmark 100th appearance for Ghana on the night, stepped up as the captain, slotting the spot kick away, and sending Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams the wrong way in the process. In the end that goal would prove to be the decisive one as it sent the home side to the play-off round of the World Cup Qualifiers and the visitors home.
One of many dubious decisions that favoured Ghana
That, however, was just the one major decision that Bafana Bafana fans would say went against the team, out many other smaller incidents where it seemed like the home side, Ghana were getting more of the rub of the green.
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After an outpour of outrage from Bafana Bafana fans and current and former players, coaches and sports pundits SAFA CEO Teboho Motlanthe has vowed that they will fight the matter and seek the intervention of both FIFA and CAF for this matter.
SAFA CEO confirms intent to appeal
“We suspect the game was fixed and our position is that it must be investigated. The conduct of the match officials left much to be desired and we want both Caf and Fifa to investigate. We salute the boys and the technical team for the good work they have done,” Motlanthe said to TimesLIVE
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According to the same publication, SAFA have already informed the Ghana-Bafana Bafana match commissioner Kachalla Babagana Kalli from Nigeria of their wish to take further action on this matter and their suspicions on Ndiaye and his team of assistants to CAF and FIFA. SAFA also plan to address the nation on how they plan to go about their appeal.
When is the next round?
What SAFA will be pushing for, is for Bafana Bafana and Ghana to replay this fixture at a neutral ground. They will be hoping for swift appeal approval as the play-off round of qualifications is scheduled for March 2022.
