Fred Pappoe, a member of the Black Stars management committee says it will be extremely difficult for FIFA to order a replay of the 2022 World Cup qualifier between the Black Stars and Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
Ghana defeated South Africa by a lone goal to make the playoffs on Sunday at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium courtesy of a penalty scored by Andre Ayew.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has made claims indicating that the game was fixed as well as unfair officiating from Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye.
Speaking in an interview on Wamputu Sports with Joe Debrah on Happy 98.9FM, Fred Pappoe stated the present circumstance the basis of SAFA’s protest after the game will not lead to a repay of the game.
“It will only be an extreme outcome and I don’t believe under the circumstance and their protest will warrant a replay. Because for replay unless there is credible evidence of betting, match-fixing, manipulation which can be proved that those things influenced the match before they will order for a replay. Which I don’t see that happening”.
“FIFA will look at the match commissioners report, referees report, referee assessors report or can even set up a committee to examine the game. It doesn’t mean South Africans are asking for a replay so FIFA will grant them that”.
The former GFA Vice president revealed that the management team has shifted their focus to the 2021 AFCON and the World Cup play-offs.
“We have moved on after the game and we are planning ahead of the AFCON and World Cup play-offs. The technical team have presented their reports on the four games played and areas we can do to strengthen the team”.
