Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpujye has debunked claims that Togolese referee Koussi Attiso Attiorgbe denied the Black Satellites qualification to the Africa Youth Championship 2017 with bias officiating that led to the team’s 3-2 aggregate defeat to Senegal. The national under 20 side of Ghana, needed two unanswered goals at home against the Young Lions of Senegal to qualify for the competition proper after suffering a 3-1 defeat in the first leg. Unfortunately, the Black Satellites managed to win 1-0 at the Cape Coast stadium on Friday leading to their exit. According to reports, Ghana had two clear penalties but the Togolese referee failed to award those penalties. Meanwhile, the minister who has been accused of not motivating the lads to win the game and secure qualification said he does not believe the referee was bias since he was at the stadium on Friday to watch proceedings. “I don’t agree with people who are saying the referee was bias. Although some of his calls were questionable I think he was fair.” he told Country Man Songo on Adom TV’s Fire for Fire. Senegal who kicked Ghana out will now join Guinea, Mali, Sudan, Egypt, South Africa, Cameroon and host country Zambia for the competition next year. The final tournament is scheduled for 26 February to 12 March 2017, where the semi-finalists will represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea Republic next May.
I don’t think the referee was bias in the Ghana vs Senegal match – Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpujye
