Burkina Faso have lodged an official appeal against key player Jonathan Pitroipa's red card in the semi-final win over Ghana, the team manager told AFP on Thursday.
As it stands, Pitroipa will miss Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria in Soweto after picking up two yellow cards in the stunning penalty shoot-out success over the Black Stars.
Pitroipa, who has scored twice in the tournament, was sent off three minutes from the end of extra time on Wednesday for diving when, in fact, he had clearly been knocked to the ground after tangling with an opponent.
Team manager Gualbert Kabore, speaking at the team hotel, disclosed: "The Burkina faso Football Federation wrote an official letter of appeal to CAF (competition organisers).
"We lodged it in the two hours after the match as stipulated by the regulations.
"We think we have a good chance of winning the appeal."
Kabore, a distant relation to another key Burkinabe player, midfielder and vice-captain Charles Kabore, echoed coach Paul Put's dim view of referee Slim Jdidi's decision-making during the match.
Chief among the Tunisian's perceived errors in the Burkina Faso camp were the rejection of a legitimate penalty claim, a disallowed goal that appeared to be valid, and Pitroipa's sending off.
"There were some scandalous decisions, we don't know why, we're asking lots of questions, there are lots of theories," said Kabore.
"Curiously, the players reacted better than us (the team management). They said if the referee is against us that must mean we are the stronger side."
Burkina Faso are hoping to hear later Thursday whether their appeal has been successful.
The Stallions are already having to do without the services of top scorer Alain Traore.
He was leading the scoring charts in South Africa with three goals only for his Nations Cup to end prematurely when he sustained an injury against Zambia in the final first-round game.
Source: AFP
