Ghana
yesterday proved that their 0-2 loss to Nigeria in the group stage of the WAFU
Cup was a fluke when they beat the home-based Eagles 4-1 in the final game of
the
WAFU Cup held at the Cape Coast Stadium, Ghana.
Yesterday’s
game saw a different Black Stars, who ran rings around their perennial rivals
in a game that would have be more disgraceful for Nigeria if not for the
heroics of goalkeeper/captain, Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
Ezenwa, who
did not concede any goal before the final game, was awarded the best goalkeeper
award. But that was after he had picked the ball four times out of his net.
Ghana
started the game like a house on fire and would have gone ahead in the 10th
minute if Rabiu Ali was not on hand to block a Samuel Sarko effort into corner.
Ezenwa came
to the Eagles’ rescue in the 33rd minute when he pulled off a fantastic save to
deny Isaac Twum. Soon after, defence stalwart, Adeleye Aniyikaye copped an
injury, prompting his substitution by Ariwachukwu Emmanuel.
Soon after,
Ghana was 1-0 up through the rampaging Sarfo, who defied a sea of legs to plant
the ball beyond Ezenwa. That was just a minute before the break.
In the
second half, Coach Salkisus Yusuf brought in Gabriel Okechukwu for Ubong Friday
to add pep to the midfield, but the expected renaissance lasted only a few
minutes before Ghana resumed their torment of the Nigerian team.
It became
2-0 when Patrick Razaq was tripped in the box and Vincent Atinga sent Ezenwa
the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Sarfo made
it 3-0 in the 77th minute from the penalty spot when Nigerian defender, Eze
brought down a Ghanaian attacker in the box.
Ghana were
reduced to 10 men in the added time when Atinga was sent off for a second
bookable offence, but that did not stop them from making it 4-0 through Winful
Cobbinah, who tapped home following a lovely work from Patrick Razak.
Nigeria
reduced the deficit with what seemed to be the last action of the game through
Rabiu Ali.
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