As part of the 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations (CAN 2021) which will take place from January 9 to February 6, 2022 in Cameroon, the African Football Confederation (CAF) has made public the list of selected referees, including two who are the subject of criticism by several football commentators.
Many Internet users are criticizing the selection of Daniel Nii Laryea, the only Ghanaian among the 64 match officials picked for AFCON 2021.
Following the publication of the final list, a Ghanaian among others on Twitter called on the continent’s governing body, CAF to use “referee Joseph Lamptey and Anas Aremeyaw Anas investigation he done for Ghana corrupt referees as a case study to drop referee Daniel Laryea from provisional referee call-ups he has been covered himself with bad awful officiating”.
As a reminder, Daniel Laryea’s credibility reached unimaginable heights after the official survived an integrity check following an under-cover by the investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who filmed several referees receiving bribes.
CAF subsequently imposed life and long-term suspensions on seven FIFA officials.
Laryea replaced Joseph Lamptey as Ghana’s top referee after the latter was suspended for life by FIFA for handling a 2018 World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal.
Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye remains on track to officiate in the next AFCON in Cameroon as well as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
This good news is not welcomed by many South Africans. The reason is clear.
Ndiaye has been criticized by the South African Football Association for his handling of Bafana Bafana’s final matchday in Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifiers against Black Stars of Ghana.
Bafana Bafana who needed to avoid defeat to advance to the next qualifying round, lost 1-0 after a controversial penalty awarded to Ghana by Ndiaye.
The decision was challenged and reviewed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee which ultimately upheld Ghana’s pre-qualification.
Below is the final list of the match officials:
Source: AfrikPage