Fans react to Ghana ‘soft’ penalty against South Africa
After the Black Stars secured a must-win victory over South Africa at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium to qualify for the playoff stage of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, fans and football enthusiasts have taken to social media to react to the decision of the Senegalese centre referee, Maguette Ndiaye.
Andre Ayew scored the only goal in the match that was needed to secure the win for the Black Stars after a tussle in the South Africa box following a Ghana corner saw Daniel Amartey pushed to the ground. The Senegalese centre referee who was not very far from the action pointed to the spot amidst protests from the South Africans.
Ghana’s skipper Andre Ayew held his composure to send Williams Rowen the wrong way in the 33rd-minute. Ghana held on to the lone goal to dump South Africa out of the competition.
First on the list is South African news site TimesLive with the story that says “A dubious penalty awarded by Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye in the 31st minute helped Ghana beat Bafana Bafana and secure passage to the playoff round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers at Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Sunday night.”
Former South African winger Steven Pienaar added his voice, wondering how that was a penalty. He tweeted, “How was that a penalty? Disgrace”.
This fan has not much to say but he thinks the thanks goes to the referee for winning the game for Ghana.
Another fan called on FIFA to take action and possibly order a replay for fairness sake. The tweet read, “
Dear @FIFAcom you will have to take a look again at that Bafana Bafana v Ghana dubious penalty. At some point we replayed Senegal for alleged corruption claims. Fair play please”.
Floyd Shivambu, a Member of Parliament on the ticket of the Economic Freedom Fighters thinks FIFA needs to step in to reverse ‘irrational decisions’ as he thinks South Africa was robbed. He tweeted, “FACT is @BafanaBafana was robbed by an referee who most possibly was or will be paid for shenanigans. There was no basis, none whatsoever for a penalty against Bafana. @FIFAcom should establish a way of overturning irrational decisions!”.
Al Ahly’s and CAF champions league winning coach, Pitso Mosimane looks beyond the Ghana incident as he mirrors in the game between DR Congo and Benin which saw the latter also drop out having led their group ahead of the final match but was also dumped out courtesy of a penalty. He asks what the solution is.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s head coach Hugo Broos has said he has no idea if it was a penalty or not. He said his position at the time did not give him a clearer view of the incident.
“It’s difficult to see from where I was – I just saw the player on the ground and the referee whistled for a penalty. I don’t know whether it was a penalty or not; I don’t know,” Broos told journalists during his post-match conference.
What is your take, do you think it was a penalty and Ghana went through on fair grounds? Comment below?
By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com
