World Cup heartbreak for Bafana as soft penalty sends Ghana through

Bafana Bafana were knocked out of Fifa World Cup qualifying in the cruellest of ways yesterday, a controversial penalty decision handing Ghana a crucial 1-0 win in their final Group G qualifier at the Cape Coast Stadium.

The result left both teams tied on 13 points at the top of the group, but Ghana go through to the final round of qualifying, by virtue of the seven goals they scored in the group stages to Bafana’s six.

Hugo Broos’ young Bafana side will take heart from a brave campaign, in which they led for most of the way, only to be pipped at the post.

However, there must be regret at not scoring more goals against Zimbabwe on Thursday, when a greater margin of victory would have improved their goal difference and given them a better chance of going through in Ghana.

There will also rightly be anger at what looked a dreadful decision yesterday by Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye to award the Black Stars the winning penalty, converted by Andre Ayew. Ghana did dominate the contest in general, but this manner of victory left a bitter taste.

Ghana put Bafana under pressure from the first whistle and Mohammed Kudus put a free kick over the bar, before Rushine De Reuck’s header fell for Baba Iddrisu, but he scuffed his shot wide.

The Black Stars were dealt a blow in the 12^th minute as Kudus, who scored in both matches against Bafana in qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, was forced off with an injury and replaced by DanielKyereh.

In the 14^th minute, Jordan Ayew shrugged off De Reuck and burst into the area, with Terrence Mashego getting back to make a vital challenge.

Shortly after, Andre Ayew sent substitute Kyereh clean through on goal, but heblazed wildly over the bar.

Bafana grew into the game and began to look increasingly comfortable in defence, though they had little threat in attack, with Victor Letsoalo and Percy Tau battling to retain possession on the rare occasion they did get the ball.

Still, it was Ghana who had to score, and they in the 32^nd minute they were gifted an opportunity to do so by referee Ndiaye.

Bafana failed to clear a cross and Daniel Amartey collapsed in the penalty are under little to no contact from De Reuck. Ndiaye, however, pointed to the spot, booking De Reuck, and with no VAR to help Bafana, Andre Ayew stepped up and sent Ronwen Williams the wrong way from the spot.

Some of the decisions given by the officials continued to be strange, not least when Percy Tau launched an attacking throw in on the stroke of half time, only for Ndiaye to decide, for reasons best known to the referee, that it was a foul throw.

Bafana had to go for the equaliser in the second half, but continued to create little in the final third, hitting too many hopeful long balls towards Tau and Letsoalo, who are not exactly giants in the air.

When Tau did get the ball at his feet, he was crowded out by two, three or four Ghanaian defenders, clearly seen as Bafana’s main attacking threat.

Bafana did create a bit more as the game went into its final half hour, Teboho Mokoena’s effort well-blocked after the SuperSport United midfielder had been superbly set up by Letsoalo.

Thibang Phete then won a free kick on the edge of the box after being brought down by Mubarak Wabaso.

Tau curled in the free kick but it was a comfortable save by Ghana goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott.

The Al Ahly striker had another chance minutes later as he turned brilliantly away from his man and attacked the edge of the Ghanaian box, but his low shot was again too close to Wollacott.

Broos finally put on Keagan Dolly for the final 20 minutes and he immediately had an impact, sliding in Tau who went down in the box, but Ndiaye simply gave a goal kick.

Ghana almost sealed the win as Williams came hurtling off his line and missed the ball, but Kamal Suleymana put the ball just wide of the open net.