Wayne Lumbasi
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) on Thursday filed an appeal with the world football governing body (FIFA) regarding their tie against Cameroon.
Algeria lost 2-1 at home to the Indomitable Lions, who secured the ticket to Qatar. The North Africans have pointed out that they were not convinced by the manner in which the Gambian referee, Bakary Gassama, officiated the game.
Algeria is the second country to request a replay, after Egypt stated they were going to ask FIFA to have their game against Senegal replayed. At the same time, the president of the FAF, Charaf Eddine Amara, resigned from his position during the emergency meeting of the Federal Bureau on Thursday morning at the headquarters of the Algerian Football Federation.
In a statement, the Algerian Football Federation said: “FAF officially lodges an appeal with FIFA against the scandalous arbitration which distorted the result of the match. We are determined to use all the legally permitted votes to have their rights restored and to replay the match under conditions guaranteeing the honesty and partiality of the arbitration.”
Algeria striker Islam Slimani saw two efforts ruled out, one in the second half for offside, and a second in the first half of extra-time after Gambian referee Bakary Gassama consulted the pitch side monitor and deemed there had been a handball in the build-up.
Ahmed Touba had scored a 118th-minute header to seemingly send Algeria to the World Cup finals, only for Toko Ekambi to score four minutes into stoppage time of second-half extra-time.
