Zambia push for replay of Banyana tie

Zambia have called for a replay of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semifinal match against Banyana Banyana in Morocco.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) general secretary Adrian Kashala has called for the replay through a complaint he has lodged to his Confederation of African Football (CAF) counterpart GS Veron Mosengo-Omba on the matter.

Kashala said the penalty which Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse Abebe awarded Banyana for Linda Motlhalo to convert in added time was dubious.

“We call for the penalty to be cancelled, that a replay is ordered and that the referee be barred from handling any games,” reads the letter dated 18^th July 2022.

Kashala said FAZ opted to file the complaint as Zambia suffered similar injustices in their quarterfinal victory over Senegal.

“We, therefore, wish to contest against the decision of the referee to award such a penalty resulting in a goal which decided against our team progressing to the finals as we call for a serious review of the game,” the letter adds.

Zambia’s complaint comes as Banyana are preparing to meet Morocco in the WAFCON final.

Meanwhile, South African Football Association (SAFA) president, Dr Danny Jordaan, has lauded the team after reaching their sixth final.

The 2022 final is the second successive under Ellis. They lost the 2018 edition to Nigeria, whom Morocco beat on Monday night after the dreaded penalty shootout. The Super Falcons lost 5-4 to the hosts on penalties after a 1-1 stalemate at extra time.

“Banyana Banyana achieved this feat on Mandela Day and marked it by clinching a place in the final. We send our congratulations to the team after this massive effort,” Dr Jordaan said after watching the tie in Casablanca.  

Banyana will have to do without mercurial striker Thembi Kgatlana, who was ruled out by injury.

The newly Racing Louisville forward sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon in the side’s final group C match against Botswana and was subsequently ruled out of the competition. 

She joins the US side from Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid but will have to wait until she recovers to join her teammates.

RELATED STORY: What Andile Dlamini said about Banyana’s controversial penalty

Please follow and like us: