SAFA to lodge ‘formal complaint’ over a highly-debatable penalty after Ghana loss.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) will be lodging a formal complaint asking FIFA and CAF to investigate the performance of the match officials during Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 loss to Ghana on Sunday.

The result – secured by a highly-debatable penalty scored by Andre Ayew – left the Black Stars and Bafana level on 13 points and with the same goal difference (+4), but the West African side’s extra goal (7 to 6) through the course of six group matches proved the key tie breaker to send them through to the playoffs in March next year.

The Black Stars were rewarded with a soft penalty just after the half hour mark, as Daniel Amartey tumbled after minimal contact at a corner kick.

Senegalese Referee Ndiaye Maguette immediately blew his whistle, pointing to the penalty spot, much to the bemusement of the Bafana Bafana players. 

In his 100th appearance for Ghana, captain Andre Ayew struck home the spot kick to put the host 1-0 up on 33 minutes.

Safa Chief Executive Officer Tebogo Motlanthe confirmed that the association would be taking further action. 

“The association has decided to lodge a formal complaint so that the conduct of the match officials is closely investigated by both FIFA and CAF,” he said.

“But we will be having a press conference that will be telling the nation what will happen going forward.”

Motlanthe explained that Safa has concerns over the legitimacy of both the decision and the display of the officiating team from Senegal, headed up by referee Ndiaye.

“We are very disheartened by their actions and we can’t let it destroy the players – when we have the chance to challenge, we will challenge,” he added.

“We feel very much robbed because it is not an isolated incident of a penalty. There are just a lot of questionable decisions by match officials and we will get an expert to dissect other incidents, so we can make a strong case.”

Bafana Bafana entered Sunday’s match on 13 log points in Group G to Ghana’a 10, and needed to avoid defeat to ensure progression to the next stage.

Meanwhile the South Africans had originally beaten Senegal 2-1, with FIFA later concluding that Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey – ‘with the sole purpose of facilitating a minimum number of goals to make certain bets successful – clearly took two wrong decisions’.

This included the award of a penalty to Bafana Bafana when Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly was adjudged to have handled the ball, despite replays showing it had hit his knee.

FIFA took the unusual step of ordering the game to be replayed. South Africa lost 2-0 as Senegal qualified for the World Cup in Russia.

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