Some Ghanaians have taken to social media to claim that the Black Stars suffered a humiliating Round of 16 exit at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations because match officials across Africa are not giving the country fair decisions because of a football documentary by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The fans say the Black Stars have been on the end of some unfair decisions by match officials since the undercover documentary accused African officials of taking bribes.
Claiming that some bad refereeing decisions have gone against the Black Stars since the start of the competition with the first red card of the tournament going to defender John Boye in a decision widely condemned.
The latest incident occurred in yesterday's 5-4 penalty shootout loss against Cameroon where some Ghanaians fans felt South African referee Victor Gomes wrongly disallowed a goal for a handball by Thomas Partey who set up Jordan Ayew.
Video replays, though, showed the ball came off the Atletico Madrid man's chin.
Ghana suffered a disastrous misfortune in Egypt on Monday when they were bundled out in the last 16 by Tunisia, condemning a side that once ruled African football to their earliest exit since 2006.
The Black Stars had won more Cup of Nations titles than any other country when they were last crowned champions in 1982 but their four trophies have since been surpassed by both Egypt (seven) and Cameroon (five).
Ghana had made it to the semi-finals at the six previous tournaments but came up short on each occasion, and the writing was on the wall once again in Ismailia after they had an effort ruled out by the referee and twice hit the woodwork.
Kenya's Adel Range Marwa lost his place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after being filmed receiving a $600 'gift'.
Anas' undercover team were also filmed handing over money in the referees' changing room just an hour before kick-off of a match in the regional West African Football Union (Wafu) Cup between Ghana and Mali.
The undercover reporters had been guided there by Charles Dowuna, a technical instructor - also Ghanaian - for the competition.
Dowuna received funds totalling some $2,500 during the 16-team tournament. The BBC contacted Dowuna but he declined to respond.
On top of dozens of Ghanaian referees accepting money ahead of domestic matches, a game in African football's most important club competition is also highlighted by the investigation.
Ivory Coast referee Denis Dembele accepted $700 ahead of the Round of 32 clash between Ghana's Aduana Stars and Algeria's Entente Setif in this season's Champions League.
The referees all denied wrongdoing claiming the methods used to film was only calculated for them to be taken to taking money without the real background of what conversations took place.
This has led to some Ghana fans to conclude that African referees are angry over how they badly characterized in the documentary and are exacting revenge against the Black Stars.
Below are some of the comments:
All this punishment meted out to us by the referee is cos of Anas Aremeyaw Anas no. 12.#BadEvening
— Prince Ishmael Dimah (@dimahGhana) July 8, 2019
Africa referees are @ war with Ghana sake of anas bullshit. #BlackStars we will prevail..
— ORIGINAL GUY02.TAILOR ???????? (@rufusantrah) July 8, 2019
It be ANAS he cause all this... Like Kwasi Nyantakyi go sort out all the Referees, then we go win ?????????????????????? #BlackStars2019 #AFCON
— Kelvin Shiroro (@kelvin_shr3) July 8, 2019
