Soccer
Dubious penalty ends Bafana's World Cup dream─── MORGAN PIEK 07:53 Mon, 15 Nov 2021
Bafana Bafana's 2022 FIFA World Cup dream came to an abrupt end in Cape Coast last night with a 1-0 defeat to Ghana.
South Africa needed a win or a draw to advance to the next round of qualifiers after FIFA had changed the goal difference rule.
The deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute through an Andre Ayew penalty after a dubious dive in the penalty area.
This will bring into question why VAR was not used in the African qualifying? Earlier in the qualifying, the Bafana striker Percy Tau had a perfectly legitimate goal disallowed because there was no VAR available.
Following the match, a disappointed Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, lamented the poor officiating by the Senegalese referee.
“I am very disappointed in the result but I'm proud of my players.
“But I have to say, the referee today allowed Ghana to be too aggressive.
“I have nothing against aggressive play but it has to be legal aggression.”
Sunday night’s defeat also marked Bafana’s first since Broos took over as the coach earlier in the year. Qualifying for the World Cup is part of his mandate.
Morgan Piek OFM Sport
