Starlets lose to Nigeria
(From Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Lome,
Togo; Courtesy Ministry of Education, Science and Sports)
Lome, March 18, GNA - Ghana's Black Starlets lost their
shine in a crucial last Group game when they lost 0-2 to the
Super Eaglets of Nigeria when the two rivals met at the
Kegue Stadium in the African U-17 Championship currently
underway in Togo.
The Ghanaians for once lacked purposefulness in the entire
duration of the game and conceding a goal in each half to
set a date with host Togo at the semi final stage on
Wednesday.
Both countries have already qualified for the world summit
in the Republic of Korea later in the year and the outcome
of the game did not change their status.
The Nigerians, by far the better side on the day, fought
like wounded lions throughout the duration and deservingly
got the opener only five minutes to end the first half
through Rafael Ademola.
It was a product of fine exchanges involving Ibrahim
Mustapha and the "bull", Oseni Gani.
The Starlets who rest some of their regulars like Ransford
Osei, Abeiku Quansah and Gwala Pero among others struggled
to put their acts together and to handle their physical
opponents.
The team lacked stamina and left many wondering what had
gone wrong yhis time round.
Just when all seemed to be heading to a close, the Eaglets
struck again in the 88th minute when Akinsola Kabiru nailed
the Ghanaians to give the Nigerians a sigh of relieve.
Against the run of play, Gani was set clear from the middle
and the striker outpaced his Ghanaian marker and sent a
cross which goalkeeper Abraham Hoenyadzi failed to grab to
profit Kabiru to head home.
LINE-UP - Starlets
Abraham Hoenyadzi, Stephen Owesu-Ansah,Abeiku Quansah, Addo
Pual, Opare Tawiah, Gwala Pero, Owusu Benjamin, Abdul Aziz,
Enoch Adu, Sadick Adams/Ransford Osei,
Ishmael Yartey, Nathaniel Asamoah and Eric Opoku.
GNA
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