Young Africans, the Tanzanian football club, has lodged a formal complaint following their quarter-final second-leg match in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, alleging possible match-fixing.
The contentious encounter ended in a goalless draw, leading to a penalty shootout, which saw Mamelodi Sundowns emerge victorious with a 3-2 scoreline.
However, Young Africans contested a pivotal moment in the match when Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida disallowed a goal from Burkina Faso’s Stéphane Aziz Ki, despite claims that the ball had crossed the line.
In response to the controversial decision, Young Africans filed a complaint with CAF, citing concerns of administrative errors and potential match-fixing during the encounter held on April 5, 2024, at the Tshwane-Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa.
In their formal appeal, Young Africans expressed grievances over what they perceived as biased officiating, alleging a deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of the match in favor of Mamelodi Sundowns.
The club pointed to the referee’s failure to consult the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to review the disallowed goal as evidence of partiality.
Furthermore, Young Africans called for a thorough investigation by CAF to uncover any evidence of administrative errors or match-fixing.
They urged for Mamelodi Sundowns’ disqualification from the tournament under the relevant regulations if such evidence is found.
The controversy surrounding the match has drawn attention to the perceived conflict of interest involving CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who is also the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns.
While Motsepe’s son oversees the club’s presidency, concerns have been raised about potential bias given Motsepe’s dual roles.
The filing of the complaint by Young Africans underscores the importance of integrity and fair play in football, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in officiating decisions at all levels of the sport.
As CAF investigates the matter, it remains to be seen how the organization will address the allegations and uphold the integrity of the CAF Champions League.
Young Africa de la Tanzanie 🇹🇿 porte plainte contre l’arbitre du mauritanien Dahane Beida auprès de la CAF après l’incident ( but ou pas but) du club de Dar Es Salam face au Mamelodi Sundows. pic.twitter.com/gkR4AcuFWV
— Lassana Camara (@mauritaniefoot) April 6, 2024
