The recent match between Ghana’s national soccer team, “The Black Stars,” and South Africa in a World Cup qualifying game has come under scrutiny due to allegations of match-fixing. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) vehemently denies these allegations, which were put forth by South Africa’s soccer governing body, the South African Football Association (SAFA), and have called for them to be dismissed with a “punitive fine and a huge cost.”
The match, which was played at Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Ghana, was a crucial one for both teams, with the South African team needing to avoid defeat to qualify for the World Cup, while their hosts needed a win by one goal to secure the single qualifying spot. The game was decided by a penalty award in the 32nd minute, which was converted by Ghana’s Andre Ayew and proved to be the only goal of the match.
The referee, Maguette N’Diaye, came under criticism from SAFA, who demanded an investigation by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, citing alleged “match-fixing and match manipulation” and “wrongful and unlawful conduct of the match referee and other officials.”
However, the GFA denies these allegations and asserts that SAFA’s actions cast false doubts on the integrity of the World Cup brand and the Black Stars. It is worth noting that Ghana and match-fixing have a history within the country’s domestic league, with widespread corruption being uncovered in 2018 by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Despite this, the GFA continues to maintain its position that the match in question was played with integrity and that the allegations of match-fixing are baseless.
