JOHANNESBURG – The replay of
an annulled 2018 World Cup qualifier between South
Africa and Senegal will be played on November
10 in Polokwane, Fifa announced on Wednesday.
South
Africa won the original match 2-1 last
November, but a Fifa probe triggered by betting patterns led to Ghanaian
referee Joseph Lamptey being found guilty of match manipulation.
It is the first World Cup qualifier in any continent to be
replayed after a referee fixed the outcome.
Lamptey awarded South Africa a first-half penalty
for a non-existent handball, which they converted.
Later in the half, he was ordering the Senegalese to retreat
for a free-kick when South
Africa took it and scored almost
immediately.
Fifa barred Lamptey for life, and international sport
judicial body CAS rejected his appeal.
The Ghanaian, who works as an air traffic controller, has
now turned to the Swiss civil courts in the hope of having the ban
lifted.
Burkina Faso and Cape Verde lead Group D with six points
from four matches, while Senegal have five and South Africa one from three
matches.
Only group winners in Africa qualify for the World Cup
finals in Russia.
This Saturday, South Africa
host Burkina Faso and Cape Verde have home advantage against Senegal.