Being Nigerian, and a true lover of African football, I was very enthused about watching the CAF World Cup 2022 Qualifiers group G decider between Ghana and South Africa yesterday night because of what was at stake for both countries.
Ghana would be at home in front of the their countrymen at the Cape Coast stadium needing nothing but a victory to go through to the next and final round of qualifiers while South Africa just needed to draw.
Everything about that game made it all the more interesting and many of us couldn’t wait for the kick off.
And by 8pm, when Maguette Ndiaye, the referee from Senegal blew his whistle for kick off, I had a feeling South Africa would be lucky to get away with a draw from that match.
So was the level of poor officiating from the referee. Some might even say he was very biased in his decision making.
In the first half, South Africa were dealt their first blow, a penalty call awarded after Daniel Amartey threw himself to ground in the penalty box.
The Bafana Bafana players could not believe their eyes; no one touched the Leicester City. But there was no VAR to overturn the ridiculous decision and Ghana had a chance to take the lead, which they did.
That goal turned out to be the decider as Ghana go through to the next round of the qualifiers. Heart break for the South Africans.
After the match, the South African coach showed class by, congratulating Ghana but was very critical of the referee.
“We played against an opponent who was very aggressive. And the referee allowed them to play like that. He allowed it less for us. So it was difficult for us to have a good result here.
“But when you see what we did in the last three months, I am very proud about my team.”
Everything he said was spot on. All of Africa are proud of what the Bafana Bafanas did at this qualifiers and it is a pity that they were denied this glorious surprise by poor officiating.
This is why it comes as no surprise that people who truly love football in this continent are demanding that this match be replayed.
What Fans Are Saying
They are demanding for a replay and I believe they have every right to do that. It has happened before and FIFA ordered a replay after poor officiating.
Don’t forget that South Africa had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside in the first encounter in their country. And Ghana are only progressing because they scored just one goal more than South Africa.
Had that Parcy Tau goal in the first encounter stood, then even with the poor officiating and result from yesterday, the Bafana Bafanas would’ve been through.
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