Ghana have joined shamed Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe who took things in his own hands ending a game twice before the final whistle
What a joke African Cup has turned out to be! Jurgen Klop, the Liverpool boss who came close to dismissing the tournament before its kick off this month.
Klop was attacked by the African bosses and media for claiming the Afcon now going on in Cameroon is a ‘little tournament’.
The scenes coming out of Cameroon could prove the German right who yet clarified his position on what many claimed was a way of dismissing the tournament.
Klop has lost three of his stars to the tournament. Mo Sala with Egypt, Sadio Mane with Senagal and Keita with Guinea.
With the chaotic scenes coming out of the tournament – refereeing problems coupled with the nasty exchanges that ensued after a nail biting equalizer by Gabon leaving giants Ghana fighting for their lives in the intensive care unit.
It started with experienced Zambian centre referee Sikazwe ending the game between Tunisia and Mali prematurely at 85 minutes.
As if that wasn’t clearly enough the referee again whistled at the 89th minute to call the game to an end causing mayhem on the pitch.
Tunisian officials whose team failed to take their chance from the spot took to the pitch to confront the Zambian official and demand he restarts the game.
The scenes of shame were all over social media with the western media trolling the tournament.
Then Black Stars of Ghana were at it after a game they seemed to have had an upper hand in with an amazing Andre Ayew goal in the 18th minute slipped away when Gabon equalized in the 88th through Allevinah.
The goal unsettled Ghana to the extent that they had a man sent off after the referee called the game to an end.
The referee showed Black Stars striker Benjamin Tetteh a red card after he had been caution and throwing a punch at Gabon forward Aaron Boupendza.
Tetteh has since been handed a three match ban but his behaviour and referee Sikazwe sum up a tournament described by Klopp as ‘little’.
The Liverpool boss clarified that he made the statement at the heat of the moment with his team likely to take the biggest share of the pain.
Liverpool are without Salah, Mane and Keita who are with their countries battling for the Afcon glory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTrujTx9ovQ
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
