The Ghana Football Association has exposed the South African Football Association over claims of traveling 9 hours from Accra to Cape Coast for the 2022 World Cup final qualifying match against the Black Stars
SAFA made the false claim of traveling almost 10 hours from the capital Accra to Cape Coast after missing out on the African play-offs.
The claim is, however, an extreme fabrication and lies as traveling from Accra to Cape Coast takes just about 2 hours.
“The truth is that the distance from Accra to Cape Coast is only 79 miles (127 km). Unfortunately for our colleagues, Cape Coast is a tourist’s city and many people across the world have been to Cape Coast and would be shocked to hear such a blatant lie from no less a Football Association than the SAFA. Our colleagues forgot that we defeated them 2-0 in Cape Coast in November 2019 in a Cup of Nations qualifier,” a statement from the Ghana FA read
“The total driving time is just over two (2) hours and not 7 or 9 hours. Kindly note that the South African Team was led to Cape Coast by Police escort and motorcade. In fact, the South African team got to Cape Coast before the Black Stars got to Cape Coast. We urge every South African and all well-meaning football followers to google the distance from Accra to Cape Coast.
“Thus, the SAFA started creating a foundation for a mountain of lies even before the game day itself.
“Out of respect and sportsmanship, the Ghana Football Association kept its focus on the match itself unlike our colleagues at SAFA. Then again, these allegations cast a doubt on the good job done by the officials of the South African Embassy in Ghana. In fact, FIFA and its regulations does not allow any team to travel on road for six (6) hours or nine (9) hours within a country. One may ask, why didn’t the SAFA report this to FIFA or CAF. (The FIFA standard is 200 km warrant a flight).”
Meanwhile, the South Africa Football Association lodged complaint to the World football governing body following their 1-0 defeat to Ghana in the World Cup qualifiers.
Andre Ayew’s penalty goal in the 33rd minute saw the Black Stars sail through to the play-off round of the qualifications.
The SAFA feels the Bafana Bafana were cheated on the day with a wrong penalty decision coupled with other decisions from the Senegalese whistleman.
A circular from FIFA on Wednesday suggests the matter will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee on 23 November 2021 for consideration and decision.
The Ghana FA has been asked to provide any comments or defence with regards to the protest by their South African counterparts by 20 November 2021.
