Djaoupe Kokou
Taifa Stars Danish coach Jan Poulsen said he has been frustrated by Togolese referee Djakoupe Kokou who officiated a 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier opener between Tanzania and Algeria played in Blida on Friday night. Poulsen said the referee was highly biased to deprive the visitors fairness during the match that ended in 1-1 draw.
He said the standard of the officiating has been shockingly down and leaves much to be desired.
Tanzania has already lodged an appeal to the Confederation of African Football, CAF following the biased officiating, so says Blassy Kiondo, a member of Tanzania Football Federation's executive committee who accompanied the team to Algeria.
Kiondo said he lodged the protest soon after the match to highlight the conspicuous discontent.
The Stars coach said beside other poor decisions, the referee extended the match in excess of seven minutes from regulation time.
Poulsen said the referee waived numerous fouls that denied Stars some free kicks and penalties that would have produced other results had they been awarded to Stars.
Referreing standard was highly poor much to the surprise of the host team's spectators.
Stars arrived in Dar es Salaam yesterday while gearing up for their next qualifier match against visiting Morocco on October 9.
" It was a difficult match but we were on the brink of winning it had the referee been fair enough to officiate within professional level", complained Poulsen.
The match was the first for the Danish coach since talking over from Brazilian Marcio Maximo last month and it was preceded by a friendly against Kenya on August 11, albeit with same scoreline.
Other teams in the group include Central African Republic that meet Algeria on the weekend falling October 9 as well.