The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) have expressed confidence that FIFA will order a replay of the2022 World Cup qualifier match against Ghana.
SAFA Chief Executive Officer, Tebogo Motlanthe made this known on Monday as he assured that the global football organisation is about to hear Bafana Bafana’s World Cup protest on Tuesday.
South Africa lost 1-0 to Ghana via a controversial last minute penalty in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier and bowed out of the bid to get to Qatar.
However, SAFA lodged a complaint to the world football governing body, protesting against the referee’s decision.
“They [GFA] are trying to shift the focus,” said Motlanthe as per Phakaaathi.
“What we are complaining about is the conduct of the match officials as governed by article 18 of Fifa’s Disciplinary Code. You can’t make a protest about the referee’s decisions. We believe his [the referee’s] conduct was manipulated.
“They [Fifa] would have just sent it [Safa’s complaint] back otherwise. We will hear from them tomorrow [November 23]. We are still confident.”
SAFA’s protest was backed by a report compiled by former top referee Ace Ncobo, noting how Ndiaye handled the match in Cape Coast.
Last week, FIFA confirmed the game between Bafana Bafana and Ghana would be probed.
“We wish to inform the South African Football Association as well as the Ghana Football Association that the above-mentioned protest will be submitted to a member of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee on 23 November 2021 for consideration and decision in accordance with art. 14 (9) of the Regulations Fifa World Cup 2022, Preliminary Competition as well as arts. 46 and 54 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC),” FIFA said.
If the world football governing body dismisses SAFA’s protest, the Black Stars will go on to participate in the play-offs of the World Cup qualifiers.
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