Black Stars right-back, Andy Yiadom says the penalty awarded to Ghana in the World Cup qualifying win over South Africa was ‘soft’.
After Ghana’s 1-0 win over South Africa in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Cape Coast on November 14, 2021, there has a been growing tension between the two countries off the pitch.
The Black Stars, through an Andre Ayew first half penalty, defeated South Africa 1-0 to top Group G and take the only slot to advance to the final playoff round, in a game Bafana Bafana needed to avoid defeat.
Ghana has since come under scrutiny after the South Africans made allegations of bribery and match manipulation with the South African Football Association (SAFA) lodging a complaint with FIFA, who have commenced investigations.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) have asked for the match to be replayed, citing among other things a spike in betting activity during the game.
“When I was on the pitch it looked like it was a penalty but I have watched it back it was a little bit soft,” Yiadom said on BBC.
“But it is football and I have had them given against me plenty of times and it is one of those things and it was about actually scoring the penalty which we did.
“I have been the person who has just touched him and the other person has just fallen over. At the moment I know we won the game and that’s that.”
The 29-year-old added that he and his Ghana team-mates have not been discussing the issue in light of recent comments from both SAFA and the Ghana Football Association.
“We have a WhatsApp group but nothing has really been said in it and I haven’t really been following it – has been pretty hectic and I have been travelling a lot and been in training and have to crack on with the game (for Reading against Nottingham Forest) on Saturday.” he said.
Yiadom feels that the return to Ghana of Milovan Rajevac’s was a good move for all concerned.
“It has been really good and I think he knows the logistics of Ghana and I think that’s helping and everyone’s taken to him and it is a good appointment,” he insisted.
The win over South Africa means Ghana are one of ten African nations to qualify for next March’s play-offs which will decide the continent’s five representatives at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ghana, ranked eighth in the latest FIFA World Rankings will face one of Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria or Nigeria when the draw is made for the final playoff games somewhere in March, 2022 after the Africa Cup of Nations.
