Audio By Carbonatix
Burkina Faso's Jonathan Pitroipa has been cleared to play in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria on Sunday after his ban was rescinded.
Referee Slim Jdidi admitted that he mistakenly issued the winger with a second yellow card for simulation in the semi-final against Ghana.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed on Friday that the resulting ban would be overturned.
Jdidi has already been suspended for his performance in the semi-final.
A senior CAF official told Reuters: "The referee wrote the letter to the review committee saying he had made a mistake.
"The review committee examined footage of the incident and agreed Pitroipa had been fouled.
"It asked the disciplinary committee to verify its decision, which [it] is entitled to do under the terms of Caf's rules and regulations."
Burkina Faso will play in their first Cup of Nations final, while Nigeria are seeking their third continental title.
Pitroipa, who plays for French side Rennes, will be a key player in Paul Put's side, who are missing top scorer Alain Traore.
Striker Traore scored three goals in the group stage but suffered a thigh injury in the final group game against Zambia.
Pitroipa was shown a second yellow card in the final minutes of extra-time against Ghana by Tunisian official Jdidi, earning a caution for simulation even though John Boye appeared to trip the Burkinabe inside his own area.
Shortly after the match, which Burkina Faso won after a dramatic penalty shoot-out, officials from the West African nation made an official protest about the referee's performance to African football's ruling body.
Caf President Issa Hayatou admitted earlier on Friday that refereeing mistakes had been made at the tournament.
"Overall we are satisfied but we experienced some mistakes with the referees especially at the semi-final between Ghana and Burkina Faso, and there were other errors too at the Tunisia v Togo [group] match," he said.
Caf Secretary-General Hicham El Amrani, meanwhile, told a news conference in Johannesburg on Thursday that his body was unhappy with the standard of officiating in the Nelspruit semi-final.
Jdidi infuriated Burkina Faso when not only sending off Pitroipa after he had seemingly won a penalty but also awarding Ghana a debatable spot-kick themselves, before disallowing a legitimate-looking Stallions goal.
"We would have expected a better standard," El Amrani said.
Already missing the injured Traore for the first Nations Cup final in the Stallions' history, the absence of key man Pitroipa, who scored the match-winner in Sunday's quarter-final win over Togo, would have been another major blow for the Burkinabe.
Prior to these finals, the Stallions had failed to win a match at the Nations Cup on foreign soil, having reached the semi-finals when hosting in 1998, but they now stand on the verge of their greatest triumph.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Baba Jamal campaign questions Ayawaso East bid of wife of late MP
5 minutes -
Big Push projects not for ‘wheelbarrow’ contractors – Mahama
12 minutes -
TUTAG breaks ground for expansion of Ho Technical University Clinic
18 minutes -
Mahama credits his administration for strengthening Ghanaian construction sector
18 minutes -
The Asian Model of Development: Lessons and implications for Africa’s economic transformation
2 hours -
Two-time world champion Nana Yaw Konadu takes over as PKO Boxing President
3 hours -
National Security arrests 45 in Tamale over cross-border crime
5 hours -
Private citizen seeks injunction to halt operations of Ghana Law Society
5 hours -
Thirteen suspected illegal miners remanded by Enchi District Magistrate Court
7 hours -
Court remands man claiming a military plot to kill President Mahama
7 hours -
‘I am the only one who can unite NPP for 2028 victory’ – Dr Bryan Acheampong
8 hours -
Senyo Hosi clarifies Star Oil CEO’s controversial stance on fuel price floor
9 hours -
Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariffs if it ‘makes a deal with China’
10 hours -
Wizkid, Asake share collab EP dubbed ‘Real’
10 hours -
BoG backs $134m Access Bank-IFC deal to save LBCs from liquidity crisis
10 hours
