FIFA to review Ghana–South Africa World Cup qualifier after complaint from SAFA

FIFA will review South Africa’s defeat by Ghana in the 2022 World Cup qualifying after the South Africa Football Association, SAFA, made a complaint to the world governing body.

Bafana Bafana needed a draw against the Ghana on Sunday to reach the final round of African qualifying, but Ghana won 1-0 with a controversial first-half penalty in Cape Coast.

The result meant Ghana finished above South Africa in Group G on goals scored and progressed to Africa’s play-offs which will hold in March.

The CEO of SAFA Tebogo Motlanthe said there were “lots of questionable decisions” by the match officials and noted that there were going to challenge the result.

Football’s world governing body has now released a statement saying: “FIFA has received a complaint from the South African FA in relation to this matter and will review it.”

In 2017, FIFA had ordered the World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal to be replayed after the referee awarded a penalty for a nonexistent handball and was banned for life for match manipulation.

The game, which South Africa won 2-1 in November 2016, was replayed in November 2017.

SAFA are seeking a similar decision regarding their game with Ghana.