Grant: “Referee Sikazwe was too lenient with Yattara

Black Stars Coach Avram Grant insists Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe was too lenient in dealing with Guinea goalkeeper, Naby Yattara, during Ghana’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final last Sunday.

The Arles-Avignon shot-stopper has become a subject of criticism in Ghana after he hacked down Captain Asamoah Gyan in the dying embers of the game, leaving the Al Ain attacker with a hip injury.

“I think they did a good job in this tournament, but I saw this goalkeeper (Yattara) and he did not behave nicely during corner kicks and everything,” Coach Grant said.

“I saw what he (Yattara) did to Atsu and I think that the referee (Sikazwe) was very soft with him, but I cannot say the referees have not done a good job in this tournament because they try to protect the players,” the former Chelsea boss added.

The Israeli trainer will be expecting better officiating from Gabonese referee Eric Arnaud Otogo-Castane during Thursday’s semi-final clash with host Equatorial Guinea.