Ghana fail to qualify for the 2017 African Youth Championship

Black Satellites fail to qualify for the 2017 African Youth Championship.

Black Satellite of Ghana could only score one goal when they needed two unanswered goals to qualify for the CAF U-20 tournament slated for Zambia in 2017. Ghana had lost 3-1 in the first leg in Dakar and a 2-0 win would give Satellite the aggregate advantage but the team struggled to win 1-0 at the Cape Coast stadium.

A huge disappointment on a Friday afternoon when the indigenes of Cape Coast had troup into the new edifice with the hope of seeing another hammering following the 4-1 drubbing Kotoko by local team, Dwarfs on Wednesday.

But the day turned into massive heartbreak as Ghana fought poorly to dash the hope of building a new generation of emerging stars.

Charles Boateng had scored a fantastic goal in the 31st minute courtesy a defensive blunder form the Senegalese. Mamadou Diarra was shielding a back pass for his goalkeeper Lamine Sarr but Jonas Osabutey forcefully managed to get a touch which made the ball come off the leg of the Sarr. The ball then fell to the oath of Boateng and the WAFA winger intelligently chipped the ball into the net.

Ghana was hustling to make an impression and create chances before the goal. They were in a haste to score and resorted to the use of long balls from defence into the attacking area but it failed woefully due to the incredible height of the Senegalese.

Coach Mas Ud Didi Dramani could not change that system of play deployed by his relatively shorter players.

Boateng had forced Sarr to spill a shot in the 7th minute with a left foot attempt from close range but the winger put wide his rebound with his stronger right foot. He jumped higher to head a corner kick from yaw Yeboah but that also went wayward.

The signs on the field showed a very difficult task for Ghana who went into the break leading 1-0 on the score board.

The believe all around was that priceless goal to give a sign of hope. That was never the case as opportunities were very limited for Satellite to nick in the goal.

Senegal were organized and played to their strength. Their compact and aggressive style, coupled with the delay tactics was good. The referees from Togo were also firm and fair. Sports minister, Nii Lantei Vanderpuye sat at the VVIP with GFA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi and other management committee members of the Satellite.

Black Stars coach, Avram Grant and his assistant, Maxwell Konadu were in the stands with other former and current national players and coaches. The faces of these personalities and fans were very terrible as time clocked down to full time.

Charles Boateng failed to add to his tally on the day when he delayed to finish a close range chance. Saliw Babawo had made the initial attempt but his shot was deflected. The ball somehow got to Boateng but this time, he was too slow to score after controlling the ball.

Matters could have been worst for Ghana in the 67th minute when Ibrahima Ndiaye nearly equalized but his shot rattled the post. Goalkeeper Kwame Baah was beaten by the strike although he had stretched to make a save.

Striker Dauda Mohammed was not the player and the striker we know. He was totally out of the entire game. Yaw Yeboah was pulled out for Evans Mensah but that also changed nothing for Ghana.

Effort were made by the Black Satellites but it was not good enough. No creativity from the players we know, no better fight and incursion, they made the Senegalese not think nor worry about losing. In the end, Ghana cried for failure as the Senegalese celebrated a feat on an away land. 



Source.pulse.com.gh