Ghana FA respond to SAFA's FIFA complaint Bafana Bafana

Ayew vs Bafana Bafana for Ghana – Photo: GhanaSoccerNet / Twitter

Ghana FA finally break their silence on SAFA’s FIFA complaint

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have finally broken their silence on SAFA’s complaint to FIFA about the officiating in Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 loss to Ghana.

Ghana FA respond to SAFA's FIFA complaint Bafana Bafana

Ayew vs Bafana Bafana for Ghana – Photo: GhanaSoccerNet / Twitter

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have finally broken their silence on SAFA’s complaint to FIFA about the officiating in Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 loss to Ghana.

READ | SAFA MAKE A DECISION ON GHANA-BAFANA BAFANA OFFICIATING

Ghana beat Bafana Bafana courtesy of a converted penalty that was awarded in dubious circumstances on Sunday evening in the Ghana Cape Coast

How Ghana got their penalty

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, stepping 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.

SAFA made the decision to appeal

After an outpour of outrage from Bafana Bafana fans and current and former players, coaches and sports pundits SAFA CEO Teboho Motlanthe then vowed that they will fight the matter and seek the intervention of both FIFA and CAF for this matter. 

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On Tuesday, FIFA confirmed that they had received an official complaint from SAFA pertaining to the issue at hand and that an investigation was now under way. Now the GFA have finally responded to that complaint. 

GFA statement

“That’s (lodging a complaint) is all they can do. We do not think that we gave them a raw deal. The referee on the day was okay,” said Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association, Henry Asante Twum, to Joy Sports.

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He also went on to point out that Ghana too, had previously been victims of bad officiating. 

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“We have been to places where officiating did not go our way but we did not even comment, for instance the game against Ethiopia, there were certain bad calls from the referee. When we played against Zimbabwe in Cape Coast, there were certain bad calls and we received a penalty against us. So things do not always go your way. But if it happens in situations like this where a draw will take you through and you look back at how they set up.” He said. 

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He then also discusses SAFA’s chances with this complaint before making a bold claim. 

On Bafana Bafana and replay chances

“They set up to defend, until we scored and it got to the 75th minute, the 80th minute, that wa when they were pilling pressure in need of an equaliser. Yes we respect their decision going to FIFA, but I’m afraid I don’t think it will change the outcome of the game. We won fairly, we fought very hard for it and I’m glad we are through to the next stage.” He concluded the GFA official

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SAFA have just recently concluded their public brief on the evidence they hope to present to FIFA, on Wednesday afternoon. Players, coaches and high ranking officials alike all gave their testimonies on what transpired in Ghana and now await a decision from FIFA.