Black Stars out of CAN 2000

Coach Moloto expresses sentiments on match

By Evans Owusu 

Accra (Greater Accra) 7 February 2000

The Ghanaian dream of winning the African Cup of Nations for the fifth time was brought to a halt when the Black Stars failed to qualify for the Semi-finals of the ongoing CAN 2000.

The Black Stars quenched the dream crushed to 0-1 defeat to the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday. The goal was executed before a packed to capacity home crowd that had the unpleasant duty of sitting on thorns for pretty forty-eight minutes.

It was one match that the Black Stars gave all that they had and showed determination to win but that was not enough, as their best could not find the net of their opponents.

The Stars who played an improved game over their previous three outings, marched their opponents boot for boot throughout the game but paid dearly for slacking marking in the 42^nd minute to allow South Africa’s Nomvete slide home a header.

The match started on a fast note after Ghana kicked off with both sides maing early incursions into each other’s territory. In the third minute, Kwame Ayew adventured into the South African’s goal area after chesting a ball from the right but his final application was rendered useless as Mark Fish closed in on him to block an intended shot. The game remained a ding-dong affair from then on.

In the 26^th minute, the tournament’s leading scorer Shaun Bartlett came close to scoring but Samuel Osei Kuffour cleared his left footed shot to corner with the resultant going wasted.

Ghana replied the attack with a good move from the left when Emmanuel Osei Kuffour run deep into the visitors area to send a cross to Yaw Preko on the right flank, but his shot from 25 metres missed the posts narrowly. Skipper C.K. Akunnor followed with another drive two minutes later, which also went wayward.

With the game becoming quite physical, South Africa’s Eric Tinkler attracted a yellow card for dangerous play on the Stars’ lead striker, Ayew.

As the game neared the half-time mark, South Africa pushed deep into Ghana’s half with a good chance falling to Nomvete but the striker fumbled with only goalkeeper Kingston to beat. Nomvete however made amends as he headed home a cross from Shaun Bartlett in the 42^nd minute into the net to register the only goal of the match.

Ghana started the second half bringing on striker, Peter Ofori Quaye for play-maker Otto Addo and went early probing for goals.

The strength of the Bafana Bafana was reduced in the 48^th minute when Tinkler was marched off the field for another foul on Ayew.

Stars coach Dossena was quick in playing an all attacking game as he brought on Stephen Appiah and Ohene Kennedy for C.K. Akunnor and Emmanuel Kuffour but the South African defence proved resolute with Fish marshalling his men the counter the raid by the Ghanaians. In the 65^th minute Samuel Osei Kuffour was denied a goal by the upright as he watched his header bounce back into play. A connecting scissors kick by the player went wayward.

In the 76^th, 80^th and 84^th minutes, Ghana had good chances of levelling up but they went wasted as the final applications turned out to be negative.

When a powerful left footer from Ofori Quaye in the dying minutes flew past the posts, it was obvious to the 50,000 crowd the Stars’ search for the unprecedented fifth title has come to an end, at least for CAN 2000.

In Accra, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions booked the first ticket of the semi-finals when they beat Algeria’s Desert Warriors 2-1 earlier in the day at the Accra Sports Stadium.

It was the physically strong Cameroonians, who shot ahead in the first half with two goals to ensure their qualification to the next round.

Forward player Eto’o Fils Samuel scored the first goal of the match in the ninth minute with a right shot when Marc Vivien Foe set him up after collecting a long throw from the right.

Vivien Foe was himself on target in the 27^th minute after outpacing his marker to put the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Benabdellah Abdesslam.

In the second half, Algeria looked a transformed side as the raided the Cameroonian half relentlessly. Their efforts paid off in the 78^th minute when substitute Mezour Ibrahim centred for Tasfaout Abdelhafid whose nod beat Cameroon’s glovesman, Alioum Boukar.

As Algeria pressed hard for the equaliser, Cameroon multiplied in defence and managed to hold onto their thin lead till Referee Ndoye Falla from Senegal blew his final whistle.

Egypt will play Tunisia in the third quarterfinal match at Kano at 15.00 GMT Monday while Nigeria engage Senegal at the Surelere Stadium at 18.00 GMT.

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Kumasi (Greater Accra) 7 Feb. 2000

"I am on top of the world. What else can I expect", these were the words of coach Slot Moloto of South Africa moments after his team's 1-0 victory over the Black Stars in Kumasi on Sunday.

Speaking at a post match interview, coach Moloto said it is not easy to beat a national team, especially the calibre of the Black Stars on her own ground.

"For me winning the game at the Black Stars home grounds is great. What else can I expect", he told the press.

The South Africa coach said Ghana and Nigeria had been touted as favourites in the competition to such an extent that the media forgot entirely about South Africa.

"Our victory over Ghana is therefore to remind them that we are a force to reckon with and should be recognised as such".

Giussepe Dossena, the Black Stars coach said even though the team lost, he was satisfied with their performance.

He said the Stars are as good as the South Africans and that the defeat has left his boys completely shattered.

Coach Dossena said all was not lost and that he was going to take the squad to the world cup qualifying matches.

Soccer fans, who thronged the Kumasi Stadium on Sunday, expressed diverse views on the outcome of the match.

While some praised the Stars for the marked improvement in their game, others thought otherwise and said they should have been taught a lesson like what happened to the elephants of Cote d'Ivoire.

They accused the attackers of lack of imagination and wondered why the defence crumbles easily under any pressure. Others were quick to point out that there is no playmaker in the squad.

This group thinks that the team needs an inspirer who can carry the team on his shoulders and carry his colleagues along.

They contended that until such a player is found, the Stars will find it tough regaining their pride and prestige.

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