Senegal’s Badara to officiate Ghana-Lesotho tie

Stop nonsense... Diatta Badara

World football’s governing body, Fifa, has appointed Senegalese referee Diatta Badara to handle tomorrow’s 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier between Ghana and Lesotho at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Badara, 41, is the most experienced referee in Senegal and has officiated at the last five editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

A teacher by profession, Badara also handled the Ghana-Botswana clash at this year’s Afcon which the Black Stars won by a lone goal, courtesy of John Mensah. Badara was then in charge for the final between Zambia and Ivory Coast, which Chipolopolo won on penalties.

While it the first time Badara will officiate a match involving Likuena he has had presided over several Ghana games.

In November 2009 he the Ghana-Mali 2010 World Cup/Afcon qualifier in Kumasi which ended 2-2. Prior to that, he was the man in the middle as the Black Stars thumped South Africa 3-0 in a 2006 FifaWorld Cup qualifier in june 2004, also in Kumasi.

Badara is expected to be assisted by compatriot Camara Djibril and Rwandan Kabanda Felicien. Gueye Daouda, also of Senegal, will serve as the fourth official.

Kenya’s Titus Kasuve will act as the Match Commissioner.