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Stars reach CHAN final
Bouake, Cote D’Ivoire, March 5, Ghanadot/GNA
– Ghana’s Black Stars claimed a final berth of the ongoing
African Nations Championship (CHAN) when they beat Senegal 7-6
on penalties in their semi-final clash at the Stade de la Paix,
Boauke on Wednesday.
The Stars’ goalie goalkeeper Philemon McCarthy was the hero for
the Ghanaian side when he saved Senegalese defender Djilabodji
Papy’s kick before Kwadwo Poku’s kick ensured victory in the
marathon shoot-out.
The Hearts of Oak goalie had earlier converted his kick, the
final of the first phase to take the game into the next round of
penalty shoot out.
For once, a Ghanaian side remained very confident during penalty
kicks and the result paid off for them amidst sessions of
prayers by some of the players amid the regular cheers from the
packed crowd at the Stadium of Peace.
The all-West African affair had to be decided on penalties after
both teams were tied one all after 120 minutes of action, the
first of the competition designed exclusively for local-based
players.
The Black Stars, who for the second time had to play without
Head Coach, Milovan Rajevac on the technical bench, started
brightly with Charles Asampong Taylor leading several raids into
the Senegalese goal area.
Taylor, who is gradually rediscovering his old form was by far
the brightest spot on the Ghanaian side and was on the second
and 28th minutes, denied the opener by the Senegalese goalie Ba
Momadou from his usual speciality free-kicks.
Liberty Professionals striker Yaw Antwi justified his position
in the first team ahead of Kotoko’s forward, Kwadwo Poku by
registering the opener on the half-hour mark after finishing off
Rahim Ayew’s solo move upfront.
The lead was however cut short four minutes later, when Sow
Alpha Oumar slammed home after he was left unmarked in the Stars
goal area from Ndiour Babacar’s free-kick.
The Stars resumed the second half the more purposeful side with
Taylor, Owusu Ansah and Samuel Inkoom missing targets narrowly
before the quarter-hour mark.
But the tempo of the game soon died with McCarthy making the
best of Moussa Dembele’s goal-bound kick in the closing stages
by flicking-out the ball with the tip of his finger to the
admiration of the crowd.
During the shoot-out, Daniel Yeboah, Samuel Ayew Yeboah, Habib
Mohammed, Ofosu Appiah, McCarthy, Osei Bonsu and Poku scored for
Stars whilst Malick Fall, Diamanka Maly, Ndiour Babacar, Diallo
Mame Chieck, Diouf Mor and Ndiaye Sidy converted for the Teranga
Lions.
In the other semi-final clash at the Felix Houphouet Boigny
Stadium in the Ivorian economic capital, DR Congo beat Zambia
2-1 to set-up a final clash with the Black Stars.
The Congolese took a two-goal lead in the first half through
Lofo Bongeli and Kaluyituka Dioko before Given Singuluma reduced
the deficit for Zambia in the closing stages.
The two sides qualified from Group B, with the Stars claiming a
surprising 3-0 win in their last meet in Bouake.
Line-up
Ghana - Philemon McCarthy, Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful,
Ofosu Appiah, Godwin Osei Bonsu, Daniel Yeboah, Jordan Opoku,
Ibrahim Ayew/Habib Mohamed, Edmund Owusu Ansah/Kwadwo Poku,
Charles Asampong Taylor/Samuel Ayew Yeboah, Yaw Antwi.
Senegal – Ba Mamadou, Ndiaye Sidy, Diouf Mor, Djilabodji
Papy, Traore Mamadou/ Dembele Moussa, Badiane Vito, Ndiour
Babacar, Ndao El Hadji Sara, Diallo Karamba, Sow Alpha Oumar/
Diamanka Pape Maly, Diallo Mame Chiekh
GNA
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