INEXPERIENCE GOALKEEPER COSTS GHANA AFRICAN CUP

INEXPERIENCE GOALKEEPER COSTS GHANA AFRICAN CUP

 ELEPHANTS OF THE IVORY COAST CELEBRATE A FAMOUS NIGHT IN AFRICAN FOOTBALL AS IT WINS ITS SECOND AFRICAN NATIONS CUP TITLE IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA

………………………………………Ivory Coast defeated Ghana in Senegal in 1992 for its maiden cup win

……………………………………memories of one of the biggest football rivalry re enacted in Malabo and Bata

……………………………………….Reminds analyst of clashes between Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast and Kumasi Ashanti Kotoko

………………………………………….Ghana has produced some of the biggest names in African Football: Golden Boy Abudulrazaq, Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Sammy Kuffour, Micheal Essien while the Ivory Coast has produced the likes of Youssouf Fofana,Abdoulaye Traore[Ben Badi],Joel Tiehi, Alain Gouamene, Caesar Amani Yao,Sie Donald Oliver, Yaya Toure, Omar Ben Sallah among others.

…………………………………………Avram Grant handled the Black Stars of Ghana while Rene Herve was the sweat merchant of Elephants of Ivory Coast

………………………………………….Cote D Ivoire wins second title, after having  lost in four finals previously in the last decade.

………………………………………Goalkeeper Barry Copa’s hunger and experience wins cup for Cote’D Ivoire ,played in four cup finals

………………………………………Goalkeeper Razaq loses cup for Ghana due to inexperience

……………………………………..C.A.F loses billions of naira in equity due to absence of  Nigeria,Morocco and Egypt.

……………………………………..carnival in Bouake,Yamassoukro and Abidjan all night

BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU.

The game began with both sides having a go at each other,on an occasion Gervinho in the early minutes tried to go solo but was truncated.

The highlight of the first stanza was when Christian Atsu of Chelsea Football Club now on loan to Everton in England’s Premiership  shirted number seven let fly with a fierce left footed drive in the 25^th minute only for the wood work  to deny him and save Cote D Ivoire with Goalkeeper Barry Cupa  in goal who was obviously bemused.

It was quite a spectacle watching A.S Roma Forward,Gervinho tussle with Ghana’s full back Baba.

In the 14^th Minute Serei Die’s kick on a Ghanaian was Yellow carded though some people   expected a red card.

In the 42^nd minute of the game the floodgates of heavens as the rain fell,as the game wore on Ivorian Midfield Trojan Yaya Toure battled hard to impose himself on the game to no avail.

It was noticeable to see that the majority of players of the Black stars of Ghana  were left footed players irrespective of the positions that they played on the field.

In the 46 th minute a long range pass that was supposed to have gone to one of his team mates by Yaya Toure was intercepted  by a Ghanaian .

Bailly and Boye both of Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana head butted each other in the 57^th minute  but the referee waved play on though cautioned the two.

What will look like an attempt to steal victory in the 89^th minute had Aurierre inspiring a move which almost ended in Ghana’s net but for Goalkeeper Razaq who dived full length to parry amidst punching .

Thirty three minutes of added time did not yield any fruit as the two sides settled for penalties.

In the penalty shoot out the experience of Goalkeeper Barry eventually showed as he helped The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire to a famous victory.