WCQ: South Africa to Replay Senegal

Bafana Bafana's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Senegal will be replayed, FIFA have confirmed.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) reported referee Joseph Lamptey to CAF and FIFA for his decisions in their 2-1 loss to Bafana on 12 November 2016.

Lamptey was initially banned for three months by CAF, but he was then handed a life-time ban from FIFA for 'match manipulation'.

FIFA's statement read: 'The Bureau for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers ordered a replay of the qualification match between South Africa and Senegal held on 12 November 2016. This decision follows the confirmation of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold the lifetime ban of match referee, Jospeh Lamptey, for match manipulation, the ruling imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary and Appeal Committees. The match will be replayed within the November 2017 international window, with the exact date to be confirmed in due course. 'As stated in the FIFA World Cup regulations, this decision shall come into effect immediately but shall be subject to confirmation by the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions at its next meeting, scheduled for 14 September.'

Meanwhile,South African Football Association(SAFA) have suggested they will appeal FIFA's decision to order a replay of the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Senegal in November last year.

Bafana won the match 2-1 in Polokwane, but the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) afterwards reported referee Joseph Lamptey to CAF and FIFA for his decisions in the game, which included incorrectly awarding a penalty to the hosts .

Ghanaian Lamptey was subsequently handed a life-time ban for 'match manipulation', with the world footballing body later ordering the contest to be replayed in November this year.

Before FIFA's ruling South Africa were bottom of Group D with four points from as many games - a point behind Senegal and two shy of Cape Verde and Burkina Faso.

SAFA have responded in a statement, which reads: 'SAFA can confirm that we received a report from FIFA stating that we should replay our FIFA World Cup match against Senegal that was played last year on 12 November 2016 in Polokwane which South Africa won 2-1.

'According to FIFA, this decision follows the confirmation of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold the lifetime ban of match referee, Jospeh Lamptey, for match manipulation, the ruling imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary and Appeal Committees. In their letter, FIFA further suggests that the match will be replayed within the November 2017 international window, with the exact date to be confirmed in due course.

'SAFA is studying the contents of the report and will issue a statement on intentions to challenge that decision.

'SAFA wishes to also state categorically that it was in no way involved with any wrongdoing related to the actions of the referee, as stated in the FIFA report. 'In the meantime, all issues related to this matter will be handled by senior counsel, Mr Norman Arendse.'