By Satish Sekar at Orlando Stadium (November 11^th 2021)

Honours Even?

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana share the top of Group G of Africa’s World Cup qualifiers with a game in hand. They have a huge advantage when they face Zimbabwe at the FNB Stadium tonight. Ghana squandered the opportunity to keep Hugo Broos’ side under pressure after their skipper André (Dedé) Ayew gave the Black Stars the lead after 21 minutes.

The Black Stars’ skipper, currently playing his trade with Qatari outfit, Al-Saad SC, atoned for an earlier miss from pit blank range after just four minutes with a sumptuous freekick from the right at the near post. His opposite number, Getaneh Kebede equalised after 71 minutes blasting it in at the near post.

Although Ghana’s Black Stars deservedly led at half time, it could have been far worse as Ethiopia were indebted to their goalkeeper Teklenariam Shanko for producing a fantastic double save from point blank range to deny Ayew and Richmond Boakye.

Ethiopia was fortunate that there was no VAR to test a strong penalty claim for handball. Ethiopia rode their luck but proved profligate when they produced chances. Shot after shot failed to test Jojo Wollacott in Ghana’s goal. Even a header by Kebede after a careless loss of possession by Baba Rahman followed the pattern of failing to make Ghana’s keeper work.

Ethiopia’s performance improved in the second half. After 71 minutes their skipper found space on the right of the area and gave Wollacott no chance as he blasted it in at the near post. Fifteen minutes earlier Shimelis Bekele was unfortunate not to score the equaliser as his superb effort from the left thudded back off the crossbar on the opposite side with Ghana’s keeper given no chance.

Officiating

Nevertheless, Ghana will feel vindicated in their protests against the decision to allow this match to be played in South Africa. Ethiopia was not allowed to play the match in their country. Having to play Zimbabwe next, they chose South Africa despite the Bafana Bafana being in the same group.

Some of the officiating looked bizarre. Just over five minutes before the equaliser, Bekele went down with cramp. Ghana had possession and were attacking.

The Cameroonian referee Ngwa Blaise Yuven chose to stop play and let Bekele get treated. The danger snuffed out Ghana were given the ball back.

But Ghana also had a strong shout for a penalty in the first half. If Ghana fail to qualify, they will feel hard done by and both CAF and FIFA will face questions. CAF has announced that every match in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations will have VAR, so why is it absent from World Cup Qualifiers, especially as VAR is used in Europe’s World Cup Qualifiers?

Perhaps Gianni Infantino should ensure the integrity of World Cup Qualification for 2022 before thinking about having World Cups every two years.

Nevertheless, South Africa won’t be complaining.