Ghana Football Association Spokesperson Reveals Cause of Post-Match Fight with Central African Republic Henry Asante Twum, spokesperson for the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has disclosed the background to the altercation that occurred between Ghanaian players and officials with their Central African Republic counterparts after Ghana’s 4-3 victory on Monday, June 10, 2024. The incident, which involved hat-trick hero Jordan Ayew and Black Stars assistant coach Joseph Laumann, was sparked by verbal abuse directed at Ghanaian players by a Central African Republic player and his assistant coach. According to Asante Twum, the player made sarcastic remarks in French, unaware that Ayew and other Black Stars players were fluent in the language. Upon hearing the alleged offensive comments, Ayew became enraged and confronted the player. Similarly, Laumann, who also speaks French, challenged CAR’s second coach, who had made similar remarks. “The report I received is that after the match, one of the Central African Republic players and his assistant coach insulted the Black Stars players in French. They didn’t realize that Jordan spoke French, so Jordan confronted him,” Asante Twum explained. “Joseph Laumann also speaks fluent French, so he confronted the second coach. The CAR second coach was the first to attack our second coach, but we managed to calm the situation and make sure it did not get worse. They were trying to paint a picture of us robbing them, and even their coach left the press conference after the game,” he added on Asempa FM. Jordan Ayew’s second hat-trick for the Black Stars led them to a 4-3 victory over CAR at the Baba Yara Stadium, with Fatawu Issahaku scoring the other goal. Ghana currently stands second in Group I with nine points from four games.In a shocking turn of events, Jordan Ayew, the captain of the Ghanaian national football team, engaged in a physical altercation with players from the Central African Republic (CAR) team during a recent qualifying match for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The incident occurred in the dying minutes of the match, when Ayew was involved in a tackle with CAR defender Kevin N’Doumbé. N’Doumbé appeared to retaliate, prompting Ayew to confront him. A heated exchange ensued, quickly escalating into a scuffle. Other players from both teams rushed to the scene, and a chaotic melee erupted on the pitch. The referee intervened to separate the combatants, but not before Ayew and CAR midfielder Carine Ahouplin had exchanged blows. The exact cause of the altercation is still under investigation, but sources close to the Ghanaian team have suggested that Ayew may have been provoked by racial insults from CAR players. CAR officials, however, have denied these allegations. The incident has been widely condemned by the footballing community, with FIFA announcing that it will open an investigation into the matter. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also released a statement expressing its “grave concern” and promising to take appropriate disciplinary action. Both Jordan Ayew and the CAR players involved in the altercation face potential suspensions from future international matches. The incident has cast a shadow over the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and raised questions about the level of sportsmanship and fair play in African football.