Ghana 1-0 South Africa: Controversial Penalty Eliminates Bafana Bafana from World Cup Qualifiers
Dec, 16 2025
When Andre Ayew stepped up to take a penalty in the 83rd minute of a do-or-die World Cup qualifier, he didn’t just score a goal—he shattered South Africa’s dreams. The Andre Ayew spot-kick, awarded after a contentious handball call, gave Ghana a 1-0 win over South Africa on November 14, 2021, Cape Coast Sports Stadium, eliminating South Africa from contention for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The match, officiated by Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye, ended in stunned silence from the South African bench and outright pandemonium from the Ghanaian crowd. One goal. One decision. One match that still haunts fans in Johannesburg.
The Moment That Broke South Africa
It was the 83rd minute. The score was 0-0. South Africa had held firm for 82 minutes, weathering Ghana’s pressure, their defense compact, their midfield resilient. Then came the foul—or what the referee deemed a foul. Ghana’s Andre Ayew was tangled with South Africa’s defender Thembinkosi Lorch near the edge of the box. Lorch’s arm brushed the ball as he tried to clear it. Ndiaye pointed to the spot. No VAR. No review. Just a whistle that changed everything.
Ayew, cool as ever, sent goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott the wrong way. The net rippled. Ghana 1, South Africa 0. The stadium erupted. In the stands, South African fans sat frozen. Some wept. Others stared at the ground. By the final whistle, the silence was deafening.
Why the Controversy? A Referee Under Fire
It wasn’t just the penalty. It was how it was awarded. Replays showed Lorch’s arm was close to his body, not extended. The contact was minimal. Many analysts, including former referees, called it a non-penalty. But under CAF rules at the time, VAR was not used in this round of qualifiers. That meant Ndiaye’s call stood—no matter how divisive.
“We were robbed,” said South African captain Siphiwe Tshabalala in a post-match interview. “That’s not football. That’s luck. That’s injustice.”
Flashscore’s match report captured the mood: “South Africans were disgusted at the performance of Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye.” Goal.com called it “a controversial penalty decision” that cost South Africa their World Cup dreams. Even the South African Football Association reportedly considered filing a formal protest with CAF, though no official action was ever taken.
A Rivalry Built on Blood and Bitterness
This wasn’t just any match. It was the 16th meeting between Ghana and South Africa in competitive football. Before this, South Africa held a narrow 6-5 edge in wins, with four draws. But history didn’t matter on this night.
Just two months earlier, on September 6, 2021, South Africa had beaten Ghana 1-0 in Johannesburg, thanks to a late Bongokuhle Hlongwane goal. That win gave them hope. This loss took it all away.
The emotional weight of this fixture runs deep. Back in 2015, Ghana won 2-1 in a dramatic AFCON qualifier, with Ayew scoring the winner. In 2002, they drew 0-0 in the AFCON group stage—both teams advanced anyway. Now, in 2021, the stakes were higher than ever: one spot in Qatar, or nothing.
The Ripple Effect: What Happened Next
Ghana advanced to the third and final round of CAF World Cup qualifying, where they faced Nigeria in a two-legged playoff. They lost 4-2 on aggregate, and so, ultimately, did not make it to Qatar either. But the pain of this match lingered—because while Ghana missed out too, South Africa didn’t even get the chance to try.
For South Africa, this defeat marked their third consecutive failure to qualify for a World Cup. Their last appearance was in 2010, when they hosted the tournament. Since then, they’ve been stuck in qualifying purgatory. This match didn’t just end their 2022 campaign—it exposed deeper issues: inconsistent coaching, a lack of tactical discipline, and a growing disconnect between the national team and its fanbase.
What This Means for African Football
The controversy sparked a broader debate across the continent. Should VAR be mandatory in all World Cup qualifiers? Should referees from outside the competing nations be used? CAF has since begun pilot programs for VAR in its top-tier qualifiers, but the damage from this match was already done.
For Ghana, the win was celebrated—but quietly. Many fans admitted they felt uneasy. “We won, but we didn’t deserve it,” said one Accra supporter on social media. “That’s not how we want to qualify.”
Meanwhile, in Cape Coast, the stadium still bears the scars of that night. Graffiti on the walls reads: “Ndiaye’s whistle killed our dreams.”
FAQ
Why was the penalty decision so controversial?
The penalty was awarded after a minimal handball by South Africa’s Thembinkosi Lorch, with his arm close to his body. Replays showed little to no intentional contact, and many former referees and analysts called it a non-penalty. With no VAR available in that round of qualifiers, referee Maguette Ndiaye’s decision stood, sparking outrage from South African players and fans who felt robbed of a fair result.
Did South Africa file an official protest?
Yes, the South African Football Association reportedly considered filing a formal protest with CAF in the immediate aftermath. However, no official appeal was submitted, likely due to the lack of precedent for overturning match results based on refereeing errors without VAR. CAF has since maintained that match outcomes stand unless proven to be the result of match-fixing or gross misconduct.
How did this match affect Ghana’s World Cup hopes?
While Ghana advanced to the third round, they were later eliminated by Nigeria in a two-legged playoff, losing 4-2 on aggregate. So while the win over South Africa kept their hopes alive temporarily, it didn’t lead to World Cup qualification. The victory, therefore, became a bittersweet moment—celebrated in the moment, but ultimately hollow in the long run.
What’s the historical context between Ghana and South Africa in football?
Before this match, the two teams had met 15 times in competitive fixtures, with South Africa leading 6-5 in wins and four draws. Their rivalry includes dramatic AFCON encounters, like Ghana’s 2-1 win in 2015 and a tense 0-0 draw in 2002. This 2021 match became the most consequential, not for the scoreline, but for the controversy that surrounded it—making it a defining moment in southern African football history.
Has CAF changed its refereeing policies since this match?
Yes. In the wake of this and similar controversies, CAF introduced VAR in the final round of World Cup qualifiers starting with the 2026 cycle. They’ve also increased the use of neutral referees and implemented mandatory post-match review panels for contentious decisions. But for South African fans, the 2021 match remains a painful reminder of what could have been.
Why is this match still talked about today?
Because it wasn’t just a loss—it was a moral defeat. South Africa didn’t just lose a game; they lost their last realistic shot at the World Cup for a generation. The referee’s decision, the lack of recourse, and the emotional devastation made it unforgettable. For many, it symbolizes the fragility of justice in football when technology fails. It’s not just a match. It’s a wound.
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