Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire win matches

Standings at the end of second leg matches

Athletics-Milo marathon set for September 25

Soccer-Businessman donates to sports development in schools

By Evans Owusu,

Accra (Greater Accra) 4 August, '99

Ghana beat arch rivals Nigeria 2-1 with Cote d’Ivoire registering a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in the SCSA Zone Three football tournament setting themselves up for a crucial decider on Thursday.

Thursday's match will determine who goes to the All Africa games in South Africa in September.

Ghana's Black Meteors and the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire are tied at four points, having drawn their first matches. However, Cote d' Ivoire is leading on a superior goal aggregate.

In an exciting Ghana-Nigeria match that started one hour later than the advertised time, it was the Flying Eagles of Nigeria who kicked off very strongly but lost the ball when Nigeria’s Aliyo Mohammed brought down Sanni Wahab just outside the Ghanaian box. The resultant kick found skipper Joe Fameyeh whose good run and shot across goal was kicked to safety, earning the Black Meteors their first corner-kick that was wasted.

Meteors dependable defender, Kofi Amoako was stretchered off the filed bleeding from the lips in the 10th minute after he was inadvertently kicked in the face by a Nigerian attacker, who attempted a scissor kick. He was replaced by Alex Djanie.

The Ghanaians came close again in the 13th minute when goalkeeper Sam Okoye of Nigeria failed to make a first time save of Hamza Mohammed's cross but Fameyeh was unable to slot the ball home.

The Nigerians earned two corner-kicks in a row in the 16^th and 17^th minutes but could not utilise the set pieces to their advantage.

The Eagles repulsed the attack and nearly found the opener in the 27th minute through Obiora, who beat an offside trap, set up by the Meteors but goalkeeper Osei Boateng, saved the situation.

They lost out again in 22^nd minute as Aliyo messed up when he was waved on by Camerounian Referee, Njike Gilbert after beating an offside trap set by the Ghanaians.

The moment of glory however came for the Ghanaians when in the 39^th minute Joe Fameyeh backheeled a right cross from Hamza to the blind side of goalkeeper Sam Okoye for the opener.

The goal gave the Meteors the knack for more, which materialise on the 45^th minute mark. A short corner from Eklu to Fameyeh was relayed to the intelligent left winger to dummy three defenders before planting a gentle one in the net to end the first half that had Nigeria’s Johnson Oluwole being booked.

From recess the game became balanced, the Eagles wasted a corner while Fameyeh’s 20metre drive was grabbed with difficulty.

The Nigerians made two changes in the 52^nd and 58^th minutes by bringing on Yakubu Ayegbeni and Usigbe Idemudia for Aliyu and Onwuzorike respectively but it was the Ghanaians who looked more purposive as Azziz Ansah side netted in the 63^rd minute from Hamza’s cross.

He was soon to be substituted with Lantei Lamptey and Ghana nearly increased their lead as keeper Okoye struggled to parry over the goal line, a long drive from Osei Kwame.

In the 81^st minute, Nigeria’s Johnson Oluwole was given the marching off orders for slapping Edmund Copson but their numerical disadvantage could not deny them a consolation in the dying minutes as James Obiora capitalised on a defensive mix-up to slot home past keeper Osei Boateng in goal for Ghana.

Line up Ghana Nigeria

Osei Boateng, Felix Yeboah, Okoye Sam, Edejegba Fiday

Kofi Amoako/Alex Djanie Oyasipe Toateek, Johnson

Issah Rahman, Sani Wahab, Oluwole, Ovie Patrick, Omokoh

Edmund Copson Harrison, Onwuzorike Henry/

Eklu Johnson, Azziz Ansah/Lantei Usigbe Idemudia, Ebiede Emml.

Lamptey, Joe Famiyeh, Osei Aliyu Mohammed/Ayegbeni

Kwame/Lawrence Aidoo Yakubu, Idahor Lucky, Chimezie

Hamza Mohammed Nwkire Emmanue

In the second match, the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire beat their Burkinabe counterparts, the Stallions 2-0.

They meet Meteors of Ghana on Thursday.

The Ivorians had a numerical advantage in the 40th minute when Ouattara Moussa of Burkina Faso was shown the red card by Guinean referee Lassama Gassama for intentionally hitting the Elephants' dangerman, Koutouan Nantcho in the face.

Five minutes later, the Ivorians earned a spot kick after Nantcho was brought down in the penalty area for defender Couylibaly Mamadou to expertly convert it for the Ivorians opener.

Both teams lifted their game in the second half with Burkinabes` striker Clovis Kambou of Asante Kotoko fame coming close in the initial stages.

But as the Burkinabes seemed to have taken control of the game, the Ivorians, against the run of play, made it 2-0 from a fast counter-attack.

Martko Youssouf chipped the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Rachid Campaore into the net in the 75th minute.

The Burkinabes fought hard in the dying minutes in the hope of pulling even but they could not find the net.

Line-up: Cote d'Ivoire: Burkina Faso:

Return to top

Teams P W D L F A Pts GD

Cote d’Ivoire 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 2

Ghana 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 1

Nigeria 2 0 1 1 2 3 1 -1

Burkina Faso 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 -2

For the records a total of seven goals have been scored in the four games played, two players red-carded and as many as eight yellow cards flashed.

Return to top

Athletics-Milo marathon set for September 25

Accra (Greater Accra) 4 Aug '99

This year's annual Milo marathon race has been slated for Saturday, September 25 in Accra.

A statement, issued by the organisers, Dansoman Keepfit Club in Accra on Tuesday, said the 42-kilometre race would start at The Point, Nungua and end at Dansoman.

Nestle Ghana Limited is sponsoring the race.

GRi../

Return to top

Maase (Ashanti Region) 4 Aug '99

A businessman from Kyerekrom-Afigya and resident in Toronto, Canada, Mr Opoku Boateng, has donated sports items worth 2.5 million cedis and a cash prize of 200,000 cedis to four Junior Secondary Schools in the Afigya-Sekyere District in Ashanti.

The items, two trophies and 30 medals, will be competed for in football by the schools, Maase, Boamang, Amoako and Abroma JSS.

The donation was made at Maase after a maiden competition organised by Mr. Boateng. He said efforts would be made for all the JSS in the district to take part in the event next year.

He urged school children to develop interest in sports and not only confine themselves to academic and vocational pursuits.

Maase JSS emerged winners in the competition to lift the trophy, christened "Pokuaba Cup", 15 medals and 50,000 cedis, runners-up Boamang JSS had 15 medals

and 40,000 cedis and Abroma JSS who placed third received 30,000 cedis.

GRi../

Return to top