Ghana won the match 1-0 to advance to the next qualification stage
FIFA has opened an investigation into Ghana’s World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana on Sunday after the South Africa Football Federation (SAFA) lodged a complaint against the referee of the match played at the Cape Coast Stadium, Ghanasoccernet.com can reveal.
The world governing body opened a review into 2022 World Cup match on Monday after SAFA called for the conduct of the match official referee Maguette Ndiaye to be investigated over a first-half penalty it awarded the Black Stars during the match.
The Black Stars’ narrow win enabled them to reach the African World Cup play-offs by the narrowest of margins, ousting South Africa at the top of the group on goals scored.
SAFA made the “formal complaint” on Monday about “questionable decisions” made by the match officials in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Ghana.
“FIFA has received a complaint from the South African FA in relation to this matter and will review it. Please understand we cannot comment further at this stage,” FIFA said on Tuesday in response to a media query over the status of the complaint by SAFA.
Bafana Bafana needed a draw to reach the third and final round of African qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, but Ghana won with the penalty that has generated a lot of debate.
SAFA raised concerns over the legitimacy of the decision and the display of the officiating team from Senegal, headed up by referee Maguette Ndiaye.
The penalty was awarded after Ghana’s Leicester City midfielder Daniel Amartey went down following what appeared minimal contact from defender Rushine de Reuck, who was booked for his challenge.
But it is now clear that the penalty was awarded after Amartey went down following the heavy pulling down from defender de Reuck.