2018 COFA final ends undecided

While there has been plenty of debate about the merits of VAR – video assistant referees – recently, the bottom line remains the same; a bad call from a referee can change the outcome of a football match entirely.

The Central One Football Association (COFA) over the years, has pride itself as one of the most credible armature football organization in Sierra Leone. With the nonexistence of major football leagues in Sierra Leone, COFA competition has over the years been the point of call for football fanatics to feed their passion.

This year’s COFA competition has been described by many as a success, primarily due to the absence of major skirmishes and acrimony.
The 2018 COFA final on the 26 August, 2018, officiated by Shuaibu Bangura, saw Fourah Bay Community and Shell Community battling it out for a grand price of Fifty Million Leones (Le 50,000,000) at the association’s only turf, parade grounds, in Freetown.

Ninety minutes of entertaining football ensued in front of a capacity crowd between Fourah Bay community and Shell community but ended goalless as either side was unable to rattle the net, which ultimately ushered in the post-match penalty shoot-out.

The spot kick started well with Fourah bay community scoring their first two, but proceedings were halted after Shell Community’s Foday Fofanah scored the second for his side.

According to the central referee Shuaibu Bangura, the shell player Foday Fofanah feigned a motion which was deemed contrary to the new rules by FIFA regarding penalty spot kicks, which led to his goal being disallowed.

Referee Bangura’ action had greater consequences that was anticipated; the final was halted, spot kick abandoned and match deferred to a later date.

Football supporters, referees and coaches described the action of referee Bangura as harsh, ill-timed and inappropriate.

Supporters of Shell community allegedly accused the referee of collecting bribes and unfit to handle a match of such magnitude.

Fuming, “We are not going to tolerate decisions that will go against us; rather, referee Bangura should be blamed for his incompetence.”

Referee Shuaibu Bangura is a serving Police officer in the Sierra Leone Police with more than eight years policing experience, he is also a class two referee in the Western Area Football Association (WAFA), with more than seven years with the whistle awaiting promotion to class one.

Over the years there have been plenty of bad calls from referees, some when the very highest of stakes were on the line – and if they’d made a different decision, then who knows what could’ve happened?

By Muctar Koroma