’It was a penalty’ – Daniel Amartey speaks on controversial penalty against South Africa in 2022 World Cup qualifier

Ghana defender, Daniel Armartey has insisted that Senegalese referee, Maguette Ndiaye’s decision to award Ghana a penalty was against South Africa was a good call.

The Leicester City centre-back was involved in a tussle with Bafana Bafana’s Rushine De Reuck when a corner-kick was swung in by Kofi Kyereh in the first half of the game.

Having gone to the ground following some contact, the Senegalese referee awarded a penalty to Ghana at the Cape Coast Stadium.

Captain of the side, Andre Ayew stepped up to convert the spot-kick which propelled the Black Stars to finish as Group G winners.

Many South African’s have since protested against the penalty decision, with the country’s FA announcing on Monday that it had filed a complaint at FIFA and CAF for the match to be reviewed.

Commenting on the incident, Amartey, who was on the receiving end of the crucial foul, said he was pulled by De Reuck.

According to sports journalist Saddick Adams, Amartey told him the South African defender only left him when he was falling to the ground.

“After the game, I asked Amartey about the penalty, he told me he was pulled,” Saddick Adams posted on Twitter.

“He said the South African defender held his hand at the back and pulled him but left it when he was falling off. The camera didn’t capture that.”

Meanwhile, Ghana captain Andre Ayew believes the penalty awarded to Ghana against South Africa was a legitimate call.

According to him, the Black Stars deserved at least two more penalties during Sunday’s tense game against Bafana Bafana.

“We had more clear chances. Yes, it was a tough game. South Africa came in and needed a draw,” he said at the post-match press conference.

“We should have scored more. There was a clear penalty on Jordan as well so I think it was the other way around.

“There should have been two penalties,” he added.

Ghana have joined the likes of Algeria, Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Mali, Ghana, DR Congo, and Cameroon for the playoffs.

The draw is set to be held in December 2021, with the specific date yet to be officially communicated by CAF.

The two-legged play-off round will take place in the next international window (March 24 and March 29, 2022).

Source: Modern Ghana